Andrew Forrest, the silver-haired owner of Fortescue Metals Group, declared his intentions to fund measles booster vaccinations. This move follows a significant covid outbreak at the company’s Christmas Creek mine. This move comes on the heels of the state reporting three confirmed cases of the contagious disease. All those cases developed earlier this month at the mine, located 1,300 kilometers northeast of Perth. The healthy Western Australia large fly-in, fly-out workforce seeks to persuade the state’s to become fully vaccinated. That’s the hope for workers at Fortescue, as worries over measles transmission persist.
The WA Department of Health has confirmed an overall 39 statewide measles cases this year. This is a significant jump from only six incidents in 2022. Increased hospitalizations, particularly among children, are prompting widespread concern. In fact, at least two overseas travelers returning from Bali have already been diagnosed with the virus. Given the highly transmissible nature of some variants of concern, Dr. Imrie highlighted the dangers of travelling to countries with low vaccination rates like Bali. FIFO workers might unknowingly return with the virus to Australia.
Vaccination Initiative
Due to the recent outbreak, Fortescue is seeking to halt the spread of the virus and protect its workforce through proactive actions. A spokesperson for the company stated, “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.” This program is intended to increase immunity among workers and prevent possible spread of the virus through vaccinated employees.
Fortescue also confirmed on Tuesday that the ongoing cases have not had an impact on operations at the company’s Christmas Creek mine. The company is taking direction from local health authorities and monitoring the situation day-to-day. The increased incidence of measles in Western Australia is a disturbing trend. Mining companies such as Fortescue should put their employees’ health at the forefront more than ever right now.
Health Risks for FIFO Workers
The distinct features of FIFO work raise some special considerations in the context of infectious disease threats such as measles. As Associate Professor Allison Imrie pointed out, there was one big worry. She cautioned that Indigenous communities in more northern areas, such as the Pilbara and Kimberley, would be at greater risk as the virus spreads more.
The assumption is that if you are vaccinated, based on today’s vaccine schedule, you are protected for a lifetime, she added. However, she pointed out that this assumption may not always hold true, as “that may or may not be the case because it’s not really well-studied.”
The interplay between international travel and low vaccination rates in some locales is increasingly worrying health officials. FIFO workers are at an increased risk of contracting and transmitting the virus, Dr. Imrie elaborated. This risk is primarily a function of their travel habits, especially to areas with low vaccine uptake.
Ongoing Concerns in WA
The WA Department of Health has been tracking the measles outbreak with eagle eyes. New locations added to an expanding list of exposure sites from Perth to the Pilbara, Christmas Creek mine included. Officials are now emphasizing getting vaccinated as the first line of defense against any development of the disease.
Health authorities remain vigilant in tracking outbreaks and encouraging vaccinations among all citizens. It underscores the importance of ongoing public health campaigns. We need to double down on education and improving vaccination rates, particularly among those who travel often to places where outbreaks are more common.
