Measles Outbreak Looms in New Zealand Despite Improved Vaccination Rates

Strategic Insights -

A new measles outbreak is potentially looming in New Zealand due to the country's low population immunity and inadequate vaccination coverage. The highly contagious disease has already started spreading through communities, with new cases confirmed that are unrelated to international travel. The latest developments serve as a stark reminder of the significant danger of a larger measles outbreak. New Zealand requires a population immunity of around 95% to prevent transmission of the virus. However, the country's current vaccination coverage has not reached this level, leaving the population vulnerable to infection.

Key Takeaways:

  • New Zealand has not achieved the required 95% population immunity against measles, making the population vulnerable to infection.
  • The country's vaccination coverage has consistently remained lower among Maori children and more recently among Pacific children.
  • The latest measles outbreak in 2019 resulted in over 2,000 cases and 35% of those affected required hospital care.
  • Measles infection is associated with a long-term increased risk of other infections, including encephalitis, hospital admissions, and antibiotic prescriptions.
  • Immunization coverage for the MMR vaccine is only 82% among two-year-olds, leaving at least one in five unprotected.
  • Babies under one year of age are not protected against measles as the first MMR dose is only given at 12 months.
  • The 2019 outbreak demonstrated inequities in vaccination coverage, with gaps creating pools of susceptible individuals.
  • Young adults are vulnerable to infection and may unintentionally bring measles home to their whanau (family), including unimmunized pepi (babies).
  • A few cases in New Zealand could lead to outbreaks in other Pacific nations.

Statistics:

  • Only 82% of two-year-olds are fully immunised with two doses of the MMR vaccine, leaving at least one in five unprotected.
  • More than 150 cases of measles were confirmed in the 2019 outbreak in Auckland.
  • 35% of people affected by the 2019 outbreak required hospital care.
  • The 2019 outbreak resulted in over 35% of hospital admissions being related to measles and more than 1000 hospital admissions were not related to measles among those who had measles.
  • 85% of cases of measles in 2019 outbreak occurred in people under 30 years old.

Sources:

  • "New Zealand's measles outbreak provides an urgent reminder of the need for collective and equitable action" by Anna Howe, Emma Best, and Rachel Webb, University of Canterbury, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, The Conversation
  • The Measles Immunization Program, Health New Zealand
  • World Health Organization: Measles