The MMR vaccine is very effective, but some people have been misled by misinformation about its effects. Photo credit: Tom Lee/Stuff.
Source: RNZ
A Pacific healthcare provider in Auckland is ramping up efforts to reach people who are not immunised against measles, despite hitting a wall with some families.
There were 17 cases in the current measles outbreak as of Monday.
Sally Dalhousie from The Fono, which has four clinics across Auckland, told RNZ it is about to start sending at least two teams to houses known to have children who have not had their MMR vaccines, six days a week.
Each team has a nurse and a vaccine administrator, who can provide a vaccination if a person wanted it.
She says it is crucial to target Pacific families in this outbreak.
“Pacific children tend to end up in hospitals at high rates, especially under two years old,” Sally says.
“They are very vulnerable at that age, and it’s really difficult for families to see those children suffering.
“We’re really trying to prevent that.”
The Fono has been conducting house visits three to four times a week for the past 18 months.
In conjunction with similar efforts from other health providers across the country, the Pacific immunisation rate for measles had increased from 68 percent to 82 percent in that time.
Sally says targeted house visits have been the most effective measure in increasing MMR vaccine uptake.
“Often people find it difficult to be able to leave home and bring children in for immunisations,” she says.
“They can’t make it to a vaccination drive-thru event or a weekend clinic, they may have too many children, or not have a vehicle which they can use to bring the children in.
“During house visits, we are also able to offer vaccinations to adults who haven’t been vaccinated or who aren’t sure if they have been vaccinated, to get as much coverage as we can for the country.”
However, she adds there is still some hesitancy in the communities The Fono serves.
“We know who the families are that are really serious about declining vaccines.
“Initially, there were some aggressive reactions to some of our nursing teams that would turn up at houses, so we do not go into those spaces, but we will give them a call every so often just to try.
“We aren’t giving up on anyone.”
She says increasing immunisation rates among Pacific communities, and in general, will require getting those with hard-formed views about vaccines to reconsider.
“It is the really resistant patients who are difficult to persuade, and we accept there always will be a percentage of decliners, which has increased since Covid.
“But we’re hoping this outbreak will persuade people that it is safer when we can protect ourselves and our communities better.
“It is a massive effort and it requires a lot of work, but it can be done.
“We are looking forward to getting immunisation rates up into the 90s, but we are getting into the hard end of families now.”
Visit Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand’s website for more information.
