Missed shots endanger children

By REBECCA WALSH health reporter

A visit from a public health nurse alerted Tania Mokaraka that her 5-year-old daughter was missing some of her immunisations.

The mother of three had taken her children as babies to the family doctor for their jabs but the booster shot at 4 years old for diseases, including diphtheria and whooping cough, had simply passed by.

It is a common scenario. Each year, a handful of pupils at most of the primary and intermediate schools in the Counties Manukau area, whose immunisations are not complete, are picked up and their families contacted by public health nurses.

Some have missed nearly all their shots, others only one or two. Potentially they could become sick and expose younger siblings to a range of diseases, such as whooping cough, which doctors are warning could reach epidemic proportions this year.

Nationally, 324 cases of whooping cough were notified in the first three months of the year - more than double the 149 for the same time last year.

While most people eventually recover, persistent coughing in small babies can cause brain damage. During the last epidemic in 1999-2001, three infants died.

Kidz First public health nurse co-ordinator Elizabeth Farrell said there were a range of reasons why children missed their shots.

"If you are busy, you have a family, you might be working, it's getting to the family doctor that can be hard."

South Auckland's mobile population and mistaken beliefs about vaccination were also factors. Some parents were concerned about reaction to the immunisation, and others believed it was good for children to get illnesses and build up immunity, but were not aware of the potential consequences.

Many believed because their children were well they did not need vaccinations.

Elizabeth Farrell said some parents objected to immunisation, but most were happy to have their children vaccinated by their doctor or a public health nurse at school.

Tania Mokaraka was pleased to learn her daughter, Ave Williams, could be vaccinated at school as it saved her taking all the children to the doctor.

She did not think parents treated vaccinations as a priority, especially if their children were well.

"The doctor says you can have them immunised or not. It might be a good idea. If the doctor is not going to take too much time to tell you how important it is, you aren't going to think it's important."

Dr Nikki Turner, director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre at Auckland University, said people should reduce the chances of exposing small babies to disease.

Babies under 2 months should not be taken to large gatherings of people. It was better not to drop sick children off to creches or preschools - although she acknowledged that was difficult as many parents worked.

At home, adults or older children with a cough that lasted more than two weeks should be checked out.

Dr Turner said children were five to six times more likely to end up in hospital if vaccination was delayed.

Crippling cough

* Whooping cough is a severe bacterial infection that causes prolonged bouts of coughing which can last up to three months.

* It affects people of all ages but is particularly severe in babies and children under 1 year.

* The most common way of catching it is from another coughing household member.

* There is no cure but its spread can be stopped with antibiotics.

* Immunisation is free and is due at 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months, followed by boosters at 15 months and 4 years.