September 03, 2019
Vaccination rethink needed in wake of measles outbreak
Manurewa MP Louisa Wall says poor access to primary health rather than anti-vaccination sentiment could be contributing to the spread of measles in south Auckland.
More than 300 people were vaccinated in pop up clinics over the weekend, as the number of cases in Auckland this year tops 700.
Manurewa High School has asked students to provide proof of their measles, mumps and rubella immunisation status or they could be sent home.
Ms Wall says while there has been discussion about the need for education programmes to promote vaccination, the issues in the region are more complex than parental choice.
"Parents aren't opting for our children not to be vaccinated. It's just one of the things that ends up not being done for a whole range of circumstances – whether that be because we have insecure housing, or because we don't have a good relationship with our local general practitioners. So I think there will need to be a rethink about how we deliver vaccines to make sure people are safe from what is a preventable illness," she says.
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