Slowing immunisation rates tackled locally
The national immunisation programme has received its first report card and the Wellington region has achieved well. A national registrar has been set up to remind every newborn that at two year of age immunisation is advised. Hutt Valley Medical Officer of Health Margot McLean says if a child is not registered at their GP then a regional coordinator contacts the family and advises alternative means of getting immunised. ?I would argue it is a priority, there are generally two groups of people who don?t get immunised. ?One is against immunisations, and the other has barriers to understanding the benefits, no GP access or stress in the home,? says Dr McLean. The recently released DHB Health Targets shows Hutt Valley to be performing well on the goal of increased immunisation rates. The Ministry of Health target is that 85 percent of two-year olds will be fully immunised by July 2010; and 90 percent by July 2011. Hutt Valley is currently at 87 percent and Capital & Coast at 88 percent. ?The quarterly report is showing [immunisation] to be gradually increasing and we hope this will spread around the region,? she says. Free vaccination clinics have been set up help reach the target of 95 percent coverage within three years, such as the Kokiri Marae Health & Social Services in Seaview. Vaccinations are free of charge for two year-olds and next year?s round in February will include resistance to the H1N1 ?Swine Flu? virus. Whooping cough and measles have been targeted by the ministry of late with adults and children in the region affected by whooping cough. Measles have not been reported here and most cases were confined to the South Island. ?People need to be aware that if they have a long, persistent cough it may be whooping cough, it?s not life threatening but highly contagious. ?GPs have responded well over the last 12 months to both outbreaks,? Dr McLean says. DHB Health Targets show Hutt Valley the worst performing for helping smokers quit. They also placed 14 out of 21 for improving access to elective surgery and ranked third for providing better diabetes and cardiovascular services. ?It offers snapshots of some of the more major things. ?It?s useful in keeping the DHBs on track with their targets, and that?s important,? says Dr McLean.
