Kiwi kids are the most vulnerable they’ve been since vaccination records began.
That’s the warning from a children’s doctor, as childhood immunisation rates continue to plummet across the board.
In the last four years, the number of six-month-old babies fully immunised has dropped by around 10%. By 18 months, that gap has widened to almost 17%.
“I suppose I couldn’t be more concerned,” says paediatrician Owen Sinclair.
It comes after it was revealed two babies, neither a year old, had died from whooping cough this year. Measles is also a concern.
“These are the lowest rates that have ever been recorded since we started recording rates in 2009," he says.
Immunisation rates dropped off significantly during the pandemic – experts say they haven’t picked back up and the current system isn’t working.
“We need the resourcing to do it,” says vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris. “We need to be able to communicate really well with people, help them understand why this is important.”
In the last four years, the number of six-month-old babies fully immunised has dropped by around 10%. By 18 months, that gap has widened to almost 17%. (Source: 1News)
Sinclair says the current immunisation process is too complex, especially for low income and vulnerable families.
“So you need to have an address, you need to have a phone, you need to register with a GP, you need to be able to receive communications and then you have to have transport to get thereat a time when the GP is open.”
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