July 06, 2022
Low immunizations heighten measles threat
National Party health spokesperson Shane Reti is warning low vaccination rates could leave the door open for a resurgence of measles.
Dr Reti says the emergence of the more transmissible BA5 variant of Covid underlines a need for caution, even in the face of fatigue over Covid prevention measures in the population.
The focus on Covid over the past two years means some other health priorities have been set back.
“We’ve got a poorly vaccinated environment – remember measles was more infectious than Covid, certainly the Alpha variant – and I remain, along with other health professionals, really concerned for a measles outbreak if that was to come among us while we still have Covid around,” Dr Reti says.
There has been only one measles case notified since early 2020, after more than 2000 cases through 2019 and two deaths.