Key messages crucial for immunisation

Ngati Pikiao Health Services is receiving praise for its latest immunisation results.

The Rotorua practice has consistently immunised 100 per cent of its enrolled 8-month-old children.

Lakes District Health Board child and maternal health portfolio manager Pip King said Ngati Pikiao had achieved outstanding results and contributed significantly to the achievement of Lakes DHB's immunisation health target. Lakes DHB is the highest achieving of all 20 DHBs for quarter three (January to March 2015).

"For the previous 12 months, Ngati Pikiao had all of its enrolled babies fully immunised at eight months. At the end of every month, their results arrive showing a consistent 100 per cent. In addition, they had 95 per cent of their 2-year-olds fully immunised."

Lakes DHB chief executive Ron Dunham added his congratulations on behalf of Lakes DHB board members, who were intensely interested in the success of immunisation in the Lakes district. He said it was pleasing to see the improvements in immunisation and the work by well child health providers and primary care general practice to engage with families about immunisation.

"Lakes DHB wants to say a big thank you to everyone working in the health sector who contributes to getting the immunisation message out, and acted upon," Mr Dunham said.

Ms King said it was not just a single person in the Ngati Pikiao service responsible for the immunisation result. It had been a whole-of-service approach. Ngati Pikiao Health Services ran a special programme keeping track of all of their pregnant women and whanau and providing holistic care through pregnancy until their children were 5.

"All the staff provide families with key consistent messages around immunisation and this has been crucial. The team has focused on ensuring that all pregnant women, new mothers and families receive correct information with consistent messaging," Ms King said.

Ngati Pikiao ensured pregnant woman registered with a leading maternity carer (LMC) as early as possible in pregnancy and had a target of registration with the LMC by 10 weeks. This is to encourage women to have early screening in pregnancy, and provide her and whanau with messages about good eating and exercise and important support to quit smoking.

Ms King said Ngati Pikiao Health Services had other targets they had set themselves, ensuring 100 per cent of their babies received all of their free universal health services. This included immunisations, oral health services, B4 School checks and having the children's vision and hearing checked.

The team encourages pregnant women to be immunised during their pregnancy for whooping cough and the flu. At this time, they are able to provide information about the importance of immunisation and how it will protect their newborn babies and advice about returning with the baby to start the childhood immunisation course at six weeks of age.