Community Midwives to Deliver Antenatal Immunizations in New Zealand

Health Minister Simeon Brown announced that community midwives will be funded to deliver antenatal immunizations to pregnant women, highlighting the importance of maternal and infant health. This initiative aims to protect expectant mothers and their babies from vaccine-preventable diseases such as whooping cough. Under the new funding, community midwives can claim payments for administering selected vaccines to pregnant women in their care.

Key Takeaways:

• Community midwives will be funded to deliver antenatal immunizations to pregnant women in New Zealand, providing a convenient and trusted option for expectant mothers.
• The initiative aims to protect pregnant women and their babies from vaccine-preventable diseases such as whooping cough, which has affected over 2,600 people nationwide.
• Nearly half of all infant cases of whooping cough have required hospital care, which can often be prevented with immunization during pregnancy and timely infant vaccinations.
• Midwives hold a uniquely trusted position with families, making vaccines easier to access and helping to protect mothers, safeguard newborns, and reduce the toll of serious, preventable diseases across New Zealand.
• This initiative is being delivered through a partnership between Health New Zealand and the Midwifery and Maternity Providers Organisation (MMPO).
• Health Minister Simeon Brown emphasized the importance of empowering midwives to provide immunizations, removing barriers to access and helping to protect more mothers and babies from preventable illnesses.
• The whooping cough epidemic has been a key concern for the Government, with over 2,600 cases nationwide and nearly half of infant cases requiring hospital care.

Statistics:

• Over 2,600 cases of whooping cough have been reported nationwide.
• Nearly half (47.5%) of all infant cases of whooping cough have required hospital care.
• Immunization during pregnancy and timely infant vaccinations can often prevent serious complications of the disease.

Sources:

• New Zealand Government Community

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