Child health research funder Cure Kids says culturally appropriate, community-led immunisation programmes are needed to turn around dismal findings in its latest child health report.
That report done in association with the University of Otago found unacceptably high hospitalisation rates for rheumatic, respiratory and skin conditions – as well as mental health issues, and dental diseases.
Māori children were 46 times more likely, and Pasifika children 115 times more likely to be hospitalised with acute rheumatic fever – compared to their Pākehā counterparts.
Chief executive Frances Soutter says it’s preventable, as Māori and Pasifika showed during Covid by taking charge of their own immunisation programmes.
“To educate, within the communities to say ‘this is a really important thing to do for your mokopuna and your rangatahi. Then the immunisation rates went through the roof,” she says.
Ms Soutter says the real issues are poverty and poor housing, especially for Māori and Pasifika children.
