WHO warns New Zealand is at risk of another major measles outbreak. Photo / 123RF
By Coco Lance of RNZ
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned Aotearoa New Zealand to urgently close the “alarming” gaps in measles immunisation, particularly among Māori and Pacific communities.
A WHO review last year found measles vaccination rates were at their lowest since 2012, and said the country was at risk of another large outbreak if those gaps were not filled.
“There are alarming gaps among Māori and Pacific peoples,” the review said.
Aotearoa eliminated measles in 2017, but had a major outbreak in 2019 that infected more than 2000 people and hospitalised 700, many of them young children.
There are now eight confirmed cases in Manawatū, Nelson, Northland, Taranaki, Wellington and Auckland, raising fears of wider community spread.
Only 72% of Māori under 5 are vaccinated, compared with 82% across the general population. To stop outbreaks, at least 95% coverage is needed.
Public Health director Dr Corina Grey said the Ministry of Health shared the WHO’s concerns.
“We know Māori and Pacific children are still missing out – that’s something we have to fix,” she said.
Pacific health researcher Chris Puliuvea said there is a serious risk, specifically for Pacific communities.
“There is a 95% level where we need to be [with immunisation]. I believe we may even be behind the general population. For example, in the Bay of Plenty, vaccination rates are well behind other ethnic groups in that region,” Puli’uvea said.
Puli’uvea warned that measles can be easily spread.
“There is a serious concern at the moment. One infected person could affect up to 18 other people. The virus lingers in the air for several hours, which encourages spread. It’s far more infectious than Covid-19, and that’s a concern for our Māori and Pacific communities,” Puli’uvea said.
“I think what makes it also difficult is that you can be infected with the virus at very early stages and not show symptoms until four days later, so you could be infectious and you could be spreading it.
“Obviously it will take time to report that incident. So I think there is a serious concern at the moment, and the reason why I have this concern is why the vaccination rates are not where [they’re] meant to be,” he added.
Puli’uvea said the lower vaccination rates among Māori and Pacific communities is a complex issue, although there are several reasons.
“It’s a difficult question… key lessons from Covid-19 showed us the importance of engaging with communities, particularly the faith community, and addressing misinformation and disinformation. That’s one of the inequalities.”
“Other inequities are just excess people not being able to find time to go and get vaccinated over because they’re at work, or just lots of other things, finding the time to go and get vaccinated is one of them. The other thing that I’ve found is some people are not sure if they are immunised, particularly for those born in the 1990s onward,” he said.
Puli’uvea encouraged families to vaccinate even if they are unsure about their vaccination status.
“With MMR, I simply encourage people to go and get vaccinated. There’s no harm in getting the full course again. It protects not only the individual but also prevents spreading the virus,” Puli’uvea said.
The Ministry of Health has expanded vaccination access through pharmacies, GPs, and health centres, and offered incentives for on-time childhood immunisations.
“Every child vaccinated helps protect the whole community,” Dr Grey said.
They also explained that you can check records and free MMR vaccinations from your GP, pharmacy, or local clinic.
-RNZ