New Zealand

Citation

(2006), "New Zealand", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 19 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2006.06219dab.008

New Zealand

Good news for Maori in latest meningococcal B vaccination figures

Keywords: Public health programmes, Patient information, Patient choice

Maori children are currently being vaccinated at a higher rate than all other ethnic groups and across most age groups, says Associate Health Minister Mita Ririnui. This is encouraging news and a great milestone for people who have such a high rate of meningococcal disease.

While coverage levels for Pacific and other ethnic groups remain higher than Maori, there has been a significant increase in Maori uptake in the past ten weeks.

Mr Ririnui said the most promising result was in the 6 week and 11-month age group where there has been a marked increase in the number of Maori babies starting their MeNZB vaccinations and coming back to complete doses 2 and 3. The higher uptake in this age group is significant because Maori have historically been reticent about immunising babies.

Mr Ririnui attributed the increase to a new advertising campaign featuring Maori whanau which coincided with the rise. There has also been additional outreach work focusing on Maori and the under-fives, which has seen nurses and health providers working with communities and vaccinating in homes.

The face-to-face approach – kanohi te kanohi – is particularly acceptable to Maori.

It was always anticipated that it would take longer for the people to engage with the MeNZB campaign. It was advised from the start that Maori would take a wait-and-see approach before allowing their children to be immunised. It is likely that the increase in uptake being experienced reflects the trust Maori now have in the programme and it is expected that this trend will continue. The MeNZB mass immunisation campaign ends June 30. Mr Ririnui is urging Maori to bring in their young now so they can start – and complete – their vaccination doses. While the mass vaccination campaign ends June 30, the vaccine will remain available to 5 to 19 year-olds until December 31 in order for them to complete their doses.

It is important under-fives also aim to complete all doses by June 30 because this age group is at increased risk of meningococcal disease, particularly during the winter season. So the sooner they are vaccinated, the sooner immunity can develop. However, five year-olds who have not been vaccinated by that date will continue to be offered the vaccine, which will remain available to their age group until further notice.

New babies will be routinely offered the vaccine alongside the childhood immunisations that offer protection against such diseases as whooping cough, polio and hepatitis B.

Mr Ririnui stressed the importance of completing all the doses – “A child that is not fully vaccinated remains at risk,” he is quoted as saying.

For more information: www.beehive.govt.nz