More funding for immunisation in New Zealand could have a significant effect, possibly eliminating measles and substantially reducing the incidence of other diseases, says a local expert.
Dr Nikki Turner, director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre at Auckland University, says the government subsidies need to be heightened to ensure that medical practices have the ability to follow up on vaccinations.
An excerpt: (read in full here)
“She says the existing subsidy did not recognise that general practices had to put in extra time to recall children when they failed to turn up and make sure they were vaccinated.
“She says many countries “never see measles because their immunisation coverage is high enough”.
“”We could get rid of measles forever. At 95% (of vaccination) we would eradicate measles,” Dr Turner says.”