By 1news.co.nz
Measles immunisation rates are at an all time low in New Zealand.
A University of Otago study has found the coverage for the first measles vaccine is declining, with only around 89% of those born in 2020 receiving it. In comparison, around 95% of those born in 2017 had received the vaccine.
The study said there aren’t enough children under 5 who are protected against measles to stop a potential outbreak.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Paediatrician Owen Sinclair said an outbreak is inevitable if more people don’t get vaccinated.
“So the immunisation rates in Aotearoa are now as low as they’ve ever been recorded,” he said.
“We’ve never really immunised our children particularly well in Aotearoa and there’s a large number of systemic barriers to particularly deprived populations,” Sinclair remarked.
