At least two overseas travellers<\/a> returning from Bali have been diagnosed with the virus.<\/p>\n There have been 39 cases reported in WA so far this year, compared to six in 2024.<\/p>\n Fortescue, owned by Andrew Forrest, will offer vaccine boosters at “selected sites”. (AAP: Justin Benson-Cooper)<\/p>\n Last week, the WA Department of Health urged the state’s massive fly-in, fly-out workforce to ensure they were fully vaccinated.<\/p>\n Fortescue said there had been no impact on operations, and it was following the advice of health authorities.<\/p>\n “As part of our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our people, measles booster vaccinations are available at selected sites for team members who wish to access them,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n University of WA associate professor and virology expert, Allison Imrie, called for FIFO workers to get the booster, as childhood vaccinations might not guarantee immunity.<\/p>\n “The assumption is that vaccination, according to the current vaccine schedule, is protective for the rest of your life,” she said.<\/p>\n “But that may or may not be the case because it’s not really well studied.”<\/p>\n A new report by the National Vaccination Insights Project found out-of-pocket costs and eroding trust<\/a> had fuelled a “concerning” decline in Australia’s vaccination coverage.<\/p>\n Dr Imrie said travel to places with even lower measles vaccination rates like Bali meant FIFO workers were more likely to carry the virus back.<\/p>\n Experts are urging FIFO workers to get a measles vaccine booster. (Reuters: Annie Rice)<\/p>\n The situation is putting especially vulnerable communities in the state’s north under threat.<\/p>\n “Certain populations, including Indigenous populations up in the north, in the Pilbara and the Kimberley, would be among those people who would be at greater risk if there is more circulation,” she said.<\/p>\n Mandates not being considered<\/p>\n Neither of the major miners affected by the outbreak said they would introduce measles vaccination mandates.<\/p>\n Fortescue and BHP required their workers nationwide to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in 2021, triggering protests<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Fair Work Commission later found BHP had not properly consulted its staff<\/a> before standing down more than 30 people at a New South Wales mine for failing to meet the mandate.<\/p>\n Fortescue’s spokesperson said a mandatory measles vaccination policy was not being considered at this stage.<\/p>\n BHP has also confirmed a measles case this year. (ABC Pilbara: Alistair Bates)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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