April 05, 2023
Māori providers to gear up for whooping cough
The Māori health authority is putting in place what it learned from the Covid response to deal with a whooping cough outbreak.
The chief medical officer for Te Aka Whai Ora, Rawiri McKree Jansen, says a third baby has now died from a preventable illness.
He says immunisation rates are very low and they need to be raised quickly.
“It’s the learning from Covid. Maori providers got really active, got a really great job done. They had extended hours clinics, they has weekend clinics, mobile, all of those things, so I am actively working on that now because I think that needs to be part of our response,” he says.
Dr Jansen says medical authorities are unsure how whooping cough or pertussis is travelling in the community, so it’s important people get their pepe tested if there is any doubt.