Are volunteers required to comply with the immunity requirement?

Volunteers who are not registered healthcare professionals are exempted from the measles and diphtheria immunity requirements, and are instead strongly encouraged to meet these requirements as best practice.

MOH recognises that the imposition of immunity requirements has deterred volunteerism, particularly in the Long-Term Care sector, where volunteers are crucial to augment the manpower capacity.

Despite this stance for general volunteers, all healthcare institution licensees should continue to assess and determine if there are circumstances where diphtheria and measles immunity requirements may need to be imposed on volunteers.

In addition, prevailing infection prevention and control measures would continue to apply. Examples of such measures include routine cleaning and disinfecting of premises especially following a large group-based activity or event, as well as general public exhortation such as keeping up-to-date with necessary vaccinations, hand hygiene, masking in patient-facing areas and avoid visiting the healthcare institutions if unwell. Licensee should reiterate these measures to the volunteers.