A leading children’s doctor has labelled New Zealand an embarrassment because of its woeful rates of childhood immunisation.
Dr Johann Morreau’s comment comes as figures show the number of measles cases so far this year is more than seven times the total for the whole of last year.
Danny Jefford will never forget the day his son Jay was vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella.
“He was crying all night,” says Mr Jefford.
“Then bang – he just went into his own little world, and hasn’t really snapped out of it since.”
Soon after, Jaye was diagnosed with autism. The doctors said the two were not connected.
Mr Jefford is not convinced, but he is still a strong believer in vaccination.
He made sure his new baby is up to date with hers, but admits it can be pretty confusing for parents.
“There’s a lot to think about.”
Now parents who do not get their children immunised are being held partly to blame for an outbreak of measles.
There have been 90 cases so far this year – more than seven times the total for last year.
Leading paediatrician Johan Morreau says our immunisation records are embarrassing compared with places like Australia, America and even Western Samoa.
“They don’t see the epidemics that we are now seeing with things like measles and whooping cough – which basically shouldn’t exist in our environment.”
Ninety-five percent of people need to be immunised to stop measles spreading. The current rate is only 86 percent.
“These are serious illnesses, and the potential for their children to become damaged if they don’t immunise them is significant.”
Ivy Ashdown’s mum Kellie says parents who avoid vaccination are being selfish. Ivy is at risk from other children with measles because she is still too young to be vaccinated.
“It’s a little frustrating to think that there is kids out there that haven’t been vaccinated so therefore put my child at risk,” she says.
A small but vocal minority opposed to vaccination say there are safer ways of protecting children.
But Dr Morreau says they are irresponsible in making new parents scared – when they are plan wrong.
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