Up to 20% of kiwi babies are falling through the gaps and failing to be immunised, for reasons including poor public knowledge and a lack of engagement from health care and ante-natal practitioners.
An excerpt: (read in full here)
“Midwives and ante-natal educators were told that immunisation was an after-birth activity and many did not want to discuss it for fear of being seen as pro or anti-immunisation, [Nelson Bays Primary Health immunisation facilitator Bobbie] Hutton told the health select committee’s inquiry into how to improve completion rates of childhood immunisation.
“There needed to be greater knowledge and professional development to enable midwives to engage in discussions about immunisation, she said.
“The New Zealand Medical Association said when maternity care was provided solely by general practitioners there were many opportunities for doctors, and more importantly practice nurses, to have discussions with expectant parents.”