NZ Government Commits $50 MIllion To Lift Immunisation Rates

An apparent reluctance among Māori people to have their children immunised against common infectious diseases has seen the government commit $50 million (US$31 million) to a campaign to increase immunisation rates. Currently, only 66.8 percent of Māori children are immunised at eight months. That rises slightly to 70.1 percent at two years of age, but falls back to 69.7 percent for five-year-olds. Health Minister Dr. Shane Reti announced the two-year programme on Jan. 10, which he says will aim to help Māori health providers work in their communities to improve those figures. Dr. Reti—a GP before entering politics—said low immunisation rates put children at risk not just of unpleasant symptoms but also life-threatening, and in some cases deadly, illnesses....