Sweet treats offered to Kiwis vaccinated against measles

Growing concern over low childhood vaccination rates and a possible measles outbreak has led a primary care provider to find a new way to increase patient vaccinations.

The Cause Collective in Wiri, South Auckland, today offered measles vaccination appointments, as well as free doughnuts and take-home family portraits.

Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker said childhood vaccination rates are at their lowest national level since 2009.

“This means more and more people are vulnerable to measles,” Baker said. “It is therefore inevitable that cases will be introduced into New Zealand at any time, which could trigger an outbreak that could quickly turn into a national epidemic. »

This is a growing concern in the healthcare sector because measles is highly infectious and contagious.

Many health workers are aware of the impact of the last measles outbreak in Aotearoa in 2019, as well as the wave of cases in Samoa which resulted in 83 deaths.

Baker encourages parents to check their children’s vaccination records.

The Collective Cause is also targeting people aged 18 to 34 due to concerns that this age group may have missed the two MMR vaccines offered for measles immunity.

The Centre for Public Health Communications estimates more than 150,000 New Zealanders are not immune to measles and warns that is enough to sustain a national epidemic.