Health group takes immunisation to the people | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua
Health group takes immunisation to the people
Angelah Heurea (left), Margie Rauwhero-Kemp, Ann Smith and Trina Richards. PICTURE: TRACEY ROBINSON(291104tr4)
By ALISON BROWN in Rotorua
A Rotorua health provider is making it easy for young people to get vaccinated against the potentially deadly meningococcal disease.
In preparation for the immunisation programme, scheduled to start in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts on February 7, Korowai Aroha is setting up an outreach clinic on Sunset Rd.
The building, formerly occupied by the Fordlands Community Trust, will be used by nurses and GPs to administer doses of the meningococcal B vaccine to children from whanau who find it difficult getting into town.
The free immunisation involves a course of three injections. While students will get them from public health nurses working in schools, babies, children under five and young people not attending school will be immunised by their GP or practice nurse.
It is being introduced across the country as part of a $200 million immunisation programme funded by the Ministry of Health, aimed at controlling a meningococcal epidemic which has been sweeping the country for the past 13 years.
In South Auckland, where the programme has already started, Maori have been slow to get immunised. Korowai Aroha general manager Ngaire Whata said it highlighted the importance of taking the service to the people.
"We want to target our high needs areas but we've got to get in their faces to do it."
Health officials say a database used to record the immunisation status of children will not be used by government agencies to track down tax evaders or parents who avoid paying child support.
The assurance comes amid fears being expressed by some Rotorua families that information disclosed to nurses when they immunise their child will be given to agencies like Inland Revenue and Work and Income.
To keep track of each child's immunisation, health providers need to record personal information such as names and addresses of extended family on the National Immunisation Register. It is seen as a crucial component of the Ministry of Health's campaign to administer the vaccine to at least 90 percent of all children aged between six months and 20 years. Mrs Whata said some families saw the register as a barrier, worried the database was a way government agencies could trace them for various offences, such as avoiding tax or child support payments.
However, Bay of Plenty medical officer of health Phil Shoemack said the register was not a "big brother" tool and any information given to health providers was strictly confidential.
So far this year, 14 people in Rotorua and Taupo have been diagnosed with meningococcal disease. About half were children under five.
A Rotorua health provider is making it easy for young people to get vaccinated against the potentially deadly meningococcal disease.
In preparation for the immunisation programme, scheduled to start in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts on February 7, Korowai Aroha is setting up an outreach clinic on Sunset Rd.
The building, formerly occupied by the Fordlands Community Trust, will be used by nurses and GPs to administer doses of the meningococcal B vaccine to children from whanau who find it difficult getting into town.
The free immunisation involves a course of three injections. While students will get them from public health nurses working in schools, babies, children under five and young people not attending school will be immunised by their GP or practice nurse.
It is being introduced across the country as part of a $200 million immunisation programme funded by the Ministry of Health, aimed at controlling a meningococcal epidemic which has been sweeping the country for the past 13 years.
In South Auckland, where the programme has already started, Maori have been slow to get immunised. Korowai Aroha general manager Ngaire Whata said it highlighted the importance of taking the service to the people.
"We want to target our high needs areas but we've got to get in their faces to do it."
Health officials say a database used to record the immunisation status of children will not be used by government agencies to track down tax evaders or parents who avoid paying child support.
The assurance comes amid fears being expressed by some Rotorua families that information disclosed to nurses when they immunise their child will be given to agencies like Inland Revenue and Work and Income.
To keep track of each child's immunisation, health providers need to record personal information such as names and addresses of extended family on the National Immunisation Register. It is seen as a crucial component of the Ministry of Health's campaign to administer the vaccine to at least 90 percent of all children aged between six months and 20 years. Mrs Whata said some families saw the register as a barrier, worried the database was a way government agencies could trace them for various offences, such as avoiding tax or child support payments.
However, Bay of Plenty medical officer of health Phil Shoemack said the register was not a "big brother" tool and any information given to health providers was strictly confidential.
So far this year, 14 people in Rotorua and Taupo have been diagnosed with meningococcal disease. About half were children under five.
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