Children to be immunised against MMR 3 years earlier

AUCKLAND: Children will be fully immunised against measles, mumps and rubella almost three years earlier than in the past after a change brought in at the start of this month.

The New Zealand immunisation schedule now includes two vaccinations at 12 months — measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and pneumococcal.

The final MMR vaccine, which used to be given at 4 years old, has now been brought forward to 15 months.

While the news has been welcomed by parents, the message seems to have been lost amid the attempt to keep Covid19 at bay.

A Ministry of Health spokeswoman said the October 1 change had been widely communicated to providers over recent months to ensure they were letting families know.

‘‘Most parents and caregivers find out information about their children’s upcoming immunisations from their general practice teams, Plunket and other Well Child Tamariki Ora providers, and updated ministry resources about the immunisation programme or the ministry website,’’ she said.

The vaccination was safe and effective at 12 and 15 months and meant children were protected as soon as possible, she said.

Over the coming months general practices would contact parents and caregivers of children older than 12 months to make sure their children were up to date with the new schedule.

She said there was only a fourweek gap required between doses, so children could be quickly caught up.

Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners communications adviser

Emma McCleary said that the organisation was aware of the change and had informed its 5500 members in its weekly newsletter on September 29.

‘‘Our enewsletter is our primary channel for communicating with GPs.

‘‘We sent them detail of the schedule change that was provided from the Ministry of Health as well as a key message sheet.’’

She said GPs routinely called or texted parents to remind them of upcoming immunisation dates. — The New Zealand Herald