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Source: ONE News -
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Vaccinations are being brought forward for Canterbury infants to give them more protection from measles during the region's current outbreak.
Rather than being vaccinated at 15 months and four years, children will be vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) at 12 months and 13 months.
"Vaccinating children earlier is safe and provides much greater protection for them when the risk of being infected with measles is higher," says Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Ramon Pink.
In a letter to Canterbury General Practitioners, Canterbury District Health Board's Community and Public Health division has asked that all children over 12 months who have not received their full vaccinations be recalled to have them.
According to Dr Pink it is never too late for children to be vaccinated but the sooner it is done the faster they will be immune to measles, mumps and rubella.
Unvaccinated adults born after 1969 are also among those recommended to visit their GP and get vaccinated. Adults born before 1969 are likely to have established immunity from exposure to the illness.
Measles is a serious disease that is highly infectious and can spread from person to person through the air by breathing, coughing and sneezing. It can cause a rash, high fever, runny nose and sore watery eyes. It can lead to pneumonia, ear infections and brain damage and can occasionally be fatal.
The most effective way of preventing measles is the MMR vaccination and the more people that are vaccinated the less it will spread in the community. More than 90% of people are protected from measles once they have had the MMR vaccine.
The Ministry of Health has recommended that schools exclude children who have been in contact with known cases of measles.
"Disease can spread quickly through schools," Pink said.
Twenty three schools and 10 early childhood centres have experienced cases of measles in the last two months in Canterbury. Most cases to date have been in unvaccinated teenagers.
This year there has been an increased number of measles cases across New Zealand including several outbreaks. The largest of these outbreaks so far has been in Canterbury with nearly 100 confirmed cases, 10 of whom have been hospitalised.
In Auckland, Diocesan School for Girls in Epsom and Vauxhall Primary School in Devonport have each reported one case of measles recently.
Anyone who thinks they or a family member has measles should stay at home and phone their General Practice or After Hours clinic for advice.
