Long queue of Hongkongers waiting for measles vaccine, say doctors’ groups
- Airport Authority is expected to be given priority for batch of 30,000 vaccines, due to arrive in April
- Hong Kong’s high vaccination rate means it is strongly protected, says Hospital Authority
Hong Kong private doctors revealed on Wednesday that they have a long list of patients waiting for the measles vaccine, as doses are running short amid an outbreak in the city.
While some clinics have dozens or more than 100 people waiting for the jabs, the doctors said they expected the Airport Authority and the Hospital Authority to be given priority when the next batch of 30,000 measles vaccine arrives in the city in mid-April, as airport and medical personnel are in more urgent need of protection from the virus.
“We will discuss with the Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection about the distribution of new vaccines,” said Ho Chung-ping, president of the Medical Association, the city’s largest doctors’ group.
Amid a global wave of measles, Hong Kong has this year recorded 30 cases, including 11 involving airport and airline personnel. Last year, there were only 15 cases in the city.
There have also been complaints about a shortage of vaccines in private clinics.
