Starship Children's Hospital is currently treating two patients for measles, although their ages have not been revealed. Both were stable, an Auckland DHB spokeswoman said.
The outbreak has even reached inside the city's prisons. Three prisoners are in isolation at Auckland Region Women's Corrections Facility following concerns they have been exposed to measles, while the prison's Mothers with Babies Unit has been placed in quarantine as a precaution.
Health authorities have been urging people to check their vaccination status and that of their children, and to get a dose of the MMR vaccine if they were not up to date or could not find records.
There had been a spike in vaccinations as a result, with 20,000 jabs per month, up on the typical 12,000 per month, the ministry said last week.
Medical centres report being overrun with inquiries about the vaccine - but many have begun turning people away after running out.
READ MORE
• Measles outbreak: Housing conditions a factor in South Auckland spike
• Starship doctor's urgent plea: "Some children are likely to die"
• 'Welcome back to the dark ages': Our measles disaster explained
One father who tried to get his measles jab in Birkenhead told the Herald his appointment had been delayed for a week before being cancelled. His booster shot was rescheduled for Monday but was cancelled altogether after the centre said they could not be sure when supplies would arrive.
He had only had one measles jab as a youngster so was trying to get his booster to ensure his young baby was protected.
A planned pop-in clinic at Albany run by PHO Comprehensive Care was his next port of call.
But that event had also been cancelled because of "unprecedented demand for measles vaccines", according to a post on social media from the PHO.
People would be kept posted on alternative clinics when they were available.
Regrettably, due to unprecedented demand for measles vaccines, the clinic planned for Saturday 14 September at 42 Tawa...
Posted by Comprehensive Care on Monday, 9 September 2019
Shortages have also been reported in Papakura as well as at GPs in Tauranga and Rotorua.
READ MORE
• Mother turned away eight times due to measles vaccination shortage
• Doctors running out of MMR vaccine as demand grows
Supply problems have plagued Auckland in particular.
Associate Health Minister Julie Ann Genter told RNZ todaysome clinics had hundreds of vaccines while others had none.
"We're focused on ensuring there are vaccines available particularly in priority areas in Auckland to contain the outbreak."
The Ministry of Health said it had worked with DHBs and the distributors on a stocktake of MMR vaccine supplies.
It now had "greater clarity" on supplies. The vaccine would be redistributed with a focus on Auckland, where the three DHBs were working directly with Public Health Organisations and GPs to manage stocks.
For the rest of the country, the ministry and Pharmac were working with the distributors to get vaccines to places that were low on stock or had run out.
More than 54,000 doses of vaccine were distributed last week, the ministry said.
Pharmac has promised fresh supplies of 52,000 shots are due to arrive later this week.
The ministry said it was important to manage the remaining supplies "appropriately" in the meantime.
"The message about vaccination remains the same: all children should get their vaccinations on time to ensure the National Immunisation Schedule remains on track.
"In Auckland, vaccination efforts are targeting those communities most affected, namely Pacific peoples, and children under 4 years of age and aged between 15 and 29 years to get on top of the outbreak."
Figures published on Friday showed that, of the 1111 cases since January 1, 554 were in unvaccinated patients. The vaccination status of another 465 was not known. Another 28 patients had had one shot and 64 were fully vaccinated.
Measles: The facts
• Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that causes skin rash and fever. It spreads easily through the air by sneezing or coughing.
• Between 1-2 cases in every 1000 are fatal. Measles kills more than 50 per cent of children with low immunity, such as cancer patients.
• Symptoms usually begin to show 10-14 days after infection.
• The illness begins with fever, cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis (inflammation in the eyes), lasting 2-4 days.
bull; A rash appears 2-4 days after the first symptoms, beginning at the hairline and spreading down the body. The rash lasts up to one week.
• You can have measles and spread it to others before you feel sick or show symptoms. You can spread measles to others from five days before until five days after your rash appears.
• Measles can be caught by breathing the same air as an infected person, such as sitting next to them on the bus. The virus can live up to two hours in an airspace where an infected person coughed or sneezed. It also spreads by contact with surfaces contaminated with an infected person's nose and throat secretions.
• If you have been near someone with measles, and don't know if you're immune, seek medical advice immediately and stay in quarantine at home.
• The best protection against measles is to get two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine.
• Babies can get their first dose at 12 months in Auckland and 15 months elsewhere.
• The vaccine is free for under-50s; older people are presumed to be immune.
• Many teens and young people don't have records of their vaccinations. They may have had only one shot or none at all.
• If you're unsure whether you're fully vaccinated, check with your doctor. An extra dose of the MMR vaccine is not harmful.
