MMR Resources
MMR Resources
There is a heightened risk of a measles outbreak in New Zealand and increased focus on measles vaccination. A national measles action group has been formed to urgently prioritise immunisation.
The NIP comms team is doing a number of things to encourage MMR vaccination uptake, including targeted digital advertising to people who are due to travel overseas, encouraging them to get vaccinated before they go.
If you're looking to run a measles promotion locally, there are plenty of resources you can use, including:
· Flyers and posters targeted at under 5s (flyer available in 18 languages)
· Flyers and posters for the catch-up cohort (18-35 years)
If you're promoting local vaccination events and have any specific needs, let us know and we'll do our best to support you.
We are developing new event hardware (flags, banners, etc) and collateral to support vaccination events. We would value any feedback on what you would find most useful. This is expected to be available in March.
The best protection against measles is the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccination is free for people up to age 32 or anyone born after 1968 that hasn’t had two doses.
The first dose of MMR vaccine is due at 12 months of age. Vaccination is vital due to the risk of severe disease in this age group. Ensure tamariki are recalled before their first birthday so this dose can be delivered on time.
Is your patient population up to date with both doses of MMR? Please be aware that many children have missed out on their scheduled MMR during the last 3 years due to lockdowns.
There are also a number of people aged 17 – 32 years who have missed out on 2 doses of MMR. Please offer opportunistic vaccination to this cohort.
MMR is contraindicated in pregnancy because it is a live vaccine but can be given immediately post-partum.
Your local public health team will advise regarding vaccination of any close contacts. The MMR vaccine, if given within 72 hours of exposure to measles virus, may provide protection to the unimmunised and help limit the spread of measles.
Please call IMAC with any questions regarding vaccination of your patient, particularly if the person is immunocompromised.
Notify all suspected cases of measles to your local Medical Officer of Health
As measles is highly infectious, an urgent public health response is required to control any potential outbreak. Clinicians are reminded to notify all suspected measles cases immediately to the local Medical Officer of Health. Do not wait for laboratory confirmation before notifying.
More information
· Visit Health Pathways nzportal.healthpathwayscommunity.org
· View the CD manual pages on measles: Measles Communicable disease control manual
· The Immunisation handbook can be viewed here: Measles Immunisation handbook
· Public health units: Public health contacts | Ministry of Health NZ
· Up to date information for consumers can be found here: Measles | Ministry of Health NZ
· MMR vaccination resources available to download: Dropbox - MMR - Simplify your life
A positive measles case has been identified in an adult from Auckland. During the infectious stage, this person travelled to Tauranga. You can find the locations of interest on the Ministry of Health website under the Measles tab. https://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/news-items/imported-measles-case-confirmed-new-zealand
Community Vaccination Clinics
Please ensure that you maintain robust screening processes at the entrance to facilities. If anyone has any symptoms of measles or they have been at one of the locations of interest, they should contact their GP or Healthline on 0800 611 116.
They must not be admitted into the clinic but referred on – measles is a very contagious illness.
If someone has symptoms and needs to visit their GP or an after-hours clinic, they should phone ahead first to limit the risk of the virus being spread to other people.
Symptoms can include a fever, cough, runny nose and sore and watery ‘pink’ eyes. These are followed by a blotchy rash. If you catch measles, you're infectious four days before and until four days after the rash appears.
MMR flyer now available in multiple languages
Our ‘Measles under 5 years’ flyer is now available in 20 different languages (including Te reo Māori, several Pasifika languages, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Punjabi and more). You can see and download them from our Dropbox here: Dropbox: Measles under 5