Immunisation Rates for Children Rising

05/09/2011 | 92% Children Immunised MDHB

Teamwork and a dedication to the health of local children are the key reasons for growing immunisation levels within MidCentral’s district. The latest results show 92% of 2-years olds have been immunised; a significant increase from two years ago where the result was 72%. There are 2,346 2-year olds in the district and MidCentral DHB is keen to work towards the Ministry of Health target of 95% of these children fully immunised. This level is critical to control English measles from circulating in the community.

Child Health Portfolio Manager, Barb Bradnock, says:  “We have a very dedicated team that includes immunisation coordinators, National Immunisation Register staff, public health nurses and the outreach immunisation service staff who work closely together and alongside the 41 general practice teams in our district to ensure children are protected against vaccine preventable diseases.”   

 “All staff support families to make an informed choice around their child’s vaccinations with some families requiring more information than others to ensure they are comfortable with their decision.  The general practice teams have really got behind our programme to increase immunisation coverage across the district with a huge amount of effort going into improving systems to ensure families receive reminders in a timely way and that immunisation information is accurately transferred to the national immunisation register.”

The biggest concern in the MidCentral district is families are very often late in getting their children immunised.  For diseases like whooping cough the vaccine takes all three injections to develop good immunity and so every time the child is late they are put more at risk. 

Over the next year, the focus will be to encourage and notify families before the child is due for immunisation rather than after the event.  This will give families time in their busy lives to make an appointment with their GP Team for a timely immunisation event.

 Ms Bradnock said, “As from the 1st September, MidCentral DHB and the Central PHO, have additional staff working alongside general practices to identify children who have been recorded as missing a vaccination dose.  Parents and caregivers may be contacted to confirm the data recorded is correct and given the opportunity to discuss any concerns they have or ask any questions.  By completing this piece of work we will ensure that the immunisation records of the children of the district are accurate going forward.”

Some of those immunisations that have been missed are related to the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine that is given at 15 months and 4 years of age.  Given that we have measles outbreak in New Zealand currently this programme will support parents who may have deferred this vaccine to date to perhaps reconsider.

Contact: Communications Unit (06) 350-8945