SDHB behind in measles

The Southern District Health Board is well behind the national measles immunisation target.

The board is running an information campaign which encourages 15- to 30-year-olds to make it a priority to receive a free vaccination, but board strategy, primary and community executive director Lisa Gestro said progress was well behind where it hoped to be.

"The measles campaign certainly hasn’t had the uptake our public health team would like."

The Ministry of Health had asked chief executive Chris Fleming to take a personal interest in the campaign and ensure there was an increase in vaccinations, Ms Gestro said.

"... it has to be a priority, and we are looking at doing some targeted communications around getting people engaged with the programme."

Measles is a potentially fatal disease, but one easily prevented by vaccination.

Several outbreaks occurred in the South last year, and 72 cases were reported across the district.

Nationwide, there were more than 2000 cases in 2019: 41% were people of Pacific Island descent and 24% were Maori.

In Samoa last year, 80 people, mostly children, died from the disease.

A draft measles implementation plan was now out for consultation, Ms Gestro said.

Community pop-up clinics for measles jabs were likely. The board would also work with Maori and other community providers to run vaccination clinics.