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Southland District Health Board is crediting collaboration across the whole health sector within closing the gap in immunisation rates between Maori and the total population
Last financial year the rate for 8 month olds being fully immunised was 94 per cent for both Maori and the total population.
For two year olds, 96 per cent of Maori were fully immunised compared with 95 per cent of the total population, and for five year olds the figures were 92 and 91 per cent respectively.
The percentage of eligible girls fully immunised for HPV was 81 per cent for Maori and 76 per cent for the total population.
Pania Coote, the DHB’s director of Maori health, says high levels of immunisation indicate whanau who are connected with their health system and more likely to seek support at other times.
As well as using midwives, Well Child/Tamariki Ora, and practice nurses in general practices to get out the immunisaiton message, Southland has outreach teams which pick up on any child overdue for immunisations.
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