Starting from September, employers of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in Singapore must ensure that their helper is immune to measles if their household has a child under the age of seven who is not fully vaccinated against the disease.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) stated on June 10 that this measure aims to enhance public health resilience and protect unvaccinated young children who are at higher risk of serious health complications from measles infections.

When applying for a work permit for new MDWs or renewals for existing MDWs from Sept 1, employers with children below seven years old in the household will need to declare if the helper is already vaccinated or immune to measles.

Employers may also need to declare if the child in the household is fully vaccinated, or if a vaccination appointment has been scheduled for the helper if she is not yet vaccinated, MOM added.

A helper does not require vaccination if she is already immune to measles, or if all children under seven in the household are fully vaccinated.

Measles immunity can be acquired through past infection or vaccination. Employers can provide MOM with proof of this, such as vaccination completion, serology test results, or laboratory confirmation of past infection.

To be fully vaccinated, two doses of the measles vaccine are needed, which can be obtained at general practitioner clinics at a cost of around $80 to $140.

Employers are responsible for covering any costs associated with meeting the measles immunity requirement, as stated by MOM.

The ministry recommends that employers with existing helpers review their immunity status before work permit renewals.

MOM may conduct sample checks and request documentary proof of helpers' immunity. If MDWs are required to have measles immunity but are not immune, their work pass privileges may be suspended until valid proof of vaccination is provided.

Despite high vaccination coverage and population immunity in Singapore, sporadic cases and small clusters of measles are still expected among individuals who are not immune due to the highly transmissible nature of the disease.

Given Singapore's role as a major travel hub, the ongoing increase in measles cases globally and regionally poses public health risks, especially for those without immunity, MOM noted.

The new requirement aims to reduce the risk of measles transmission to vulnerable children who are not fully protected against the disease.

Employers are strongly advised to vaccinate their helpers or confirm their immunity if there are household members with weakened immune systems.