Pacific babies less likely to get 6-week vaccination

By REBECCA WALSH

One in four Pacific mothers have not had their babies immunised at 6 weeks, a study has found.

The research, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal today, involved 1376 Pacific mothers who live in South Auckland and gave birth at Middlemore Hospital in 2000.

It showed mothers who were less likely to have their babies immunised were Pacific-born, had more than five children and had transport troubles.

Mothers under 20 and those who had a strong cultural connection with the Pacific, not New Zealand, were also less likely to vaccinate.

Pacific children are at increased risk of poor health with a higher incidence of respiratory infections, meningococcal disease and infectious diseases such as measles.

The data, gathered as part of the Pacific Island Families First Two Years of Life Study, revealed about 73 per cent of mothers had immunised their infant and 26.7 per cent had not.

The authors said there was no reliable data for overall immunisation rates for 6-week-old babies but a Wellington study found 93.2 per cent of a group of 979 children had received their vaccines.

The finding that 26.7 per cent of mothers had not had their child immunised demonstrated the need for education on the importance of immunisation, but the researchers said issues of deprivation and social equity also needed to be addressed.

Margie Fepulea'i, general manager Pacific Health for Counties Manukau District Health Board, said the results supported anecdotal evidence.

The board's tracking system to monitor children's health, Kidslink, showed improvements in the number of children vaccinated, but many infants were getting their jabs later than they should.