Urgent shipment of vaccine on its way
An urgent shipment of the measles vaccine is due in Canterbury imminently, health authorities say.
Supplies of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine have been stretched as people rush to get immunised in response to an outbreak of the highly infectious disease. As of Thursday, there were 14 confirmed cases in Canterbury.
Health authorities have said it should be assumed the disease is now widely circulating in the community. Four of the confirmed cases were preschool-aged children. Only one of these was enrolled in an early childhood learning centre.
Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Ramon Pink said parents should keep unimmunised children at home if there was a confirmed case of measles at their preschool or school. Stuff understands some parents have been keeping their preschool-aged children at home as a precaution.
The ongoing prompted an vaccinations.
Pink said Canterbury had gone through a month’s supply of the MMR vaccine in two days this week.
An urgent shipment of 288 packs, each containing 10 doses of the vaccine, was due to arrive from Auckland imminently, he said. outbreak upswing has in Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Ramon Pink
A further 9000 doses have also been ordered. Constraints around the availability of the vaccine have prompted health authorities to qualify earlier advice.
In a letter to preschools sent this week, the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) recommended bringing forward the first dose of the vaccine from 15 months to 12 months, and the second dose to a month after the first, instead of at 4 years.
‘‘Until we have a more certain supply of the vaccine and general practices have had a chance to plan how best to meet local demand, we now believe that demand might be hard to meet immediately,’’ Pink said.
‘‘We will however, send out renewed messaging when our health system is better placed to meet that demand.’’
Ministry of Health deputy director of public health Dr Harriette Carr said the ministry had advised the CDHB to prioritise the existing immunisation programme and getting teenagers and young adults immunised.
‘‘We have agreed they could consider reducing the age of first vaccination if they can do so without mobilising resources that would be better spent on the two priorities,’’ she said.
Anyone who had not had two doses of the MMR vaccine should contact their general practice for advice, Pink said. Measles is a highly infectious viral illness spread by contact with respiratory secretions through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms of measles include:
❚ A respiratory type of illness with dry cough, runny nose, headache;
❚ Temperature over 38.5 C and feeling very unwell;
❚ A red blotchy rash starts on day 4-5 of the illness usually on the face and moves to the chest and arms;
❚ People are infectious from five days before the onset of the rash to five days after the rash starts.
❚ Infected persons should stay in isolation – staying home from school or work – during this time.
❚ The best protection from measles is to have two MMR vaccinations. MMR is available from your family practice and is free to eligible persons.
❚ People are considered immune if they have received two doses of MMR vaccine, have had a measles illness previously, or were born before 1969.
❚ Anyone believing they have been exposed to measles or exhibiting symptoms, should not go to the ED or after hours clinic or general practitioner. Instead call your GP any time, 24/7 for free health advice.
‘‘Each general practice is best placed to assess local demand and their ability to meet it and they can respond to inquiries accordingly.’’