Dr Corina Grey: Ministry of Health Director of Public Health on whether babies need to be immunised from measles early

The Ministry of Health says the measles outbreak isn't at the point where they'd routinely immunise babies under 12 months. 

We have 13 infections - and 2000 close contacts.

Parents have worried vaccinating babies early can cost more than $200. 

The Ministry's Public Health Director, Dr Corina Grey, says allowing vaccinations earlier is a decision for health officials.

"We'll continue to track the outbreak and review the evidence - but encouraging everybody who is eligible to get vaccinated."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Update on the measles is that there are in now
thirteen cases in New Zealand, after two more identified today. Now,
given how infectious measles is and how dangerous it is
for babies, parents particularly ones in Wellington, are freaking out
and trying to get the little ones jab but the
rules are not being changed. You cannot get a baby
jabbed under twelve months at the moment. Even if you do,
it might cost you a much as two hundred and
sixty dollars. Doctor Coreina Gray is the director of Public

(00:23):
Health High Karina.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Hi.

Speaker 1 (00:25):
Heather, listen, if there are all of these parents who
want to get their young babies jab before they're twelve
months old, why don't we just do it.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
That's a very good question, and we are reviewing the
evidence around that. What I can say is that two
INMIMA doses given after the age of twelve months is
highly effective at protecting people from measles and giving them
lifelong immunity. For babies, babies do have some immunity from

(00:58):
what we call maternal antibodies up until about four months
of age. Now, between four months and twelve months, we
can give MMR what we call MMR zero, but that
doesn't confer long term immunity, and so if babies do
get the jab, they still have to have their two

(01:20):
So that's cool.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
After twelve were parents who are really worried at the moment,
why not just do this for the kids and then
and then carry on with twelve and whatever else.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah. Absolutely, So at the moment, we do have thirteen cases,
but we aren't at our point where we have sufficient
transmission that the risk is high enough that we would
vaccinate or what's at that point that would be when
the something that would be communicated by public health service?

Speaker 1 (01:53):
Now, what is the point in Karna? If thirteen cases
is not the point, what's the point at which we
decided to jab the kids under twelve months?

Speaker 2 (02:00):
Well, that will be a decision that will be made
by public health.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
So you don't have you don't know when that point is.
You guys are sort of making it up as you go.

Speaker 2 (02:08):
Absolutely, we're not making it up as we go. So
what's reviewing We're carefully reviewing the evidence.

Speaker 1 (02:15):
Yeah, but one point, what is the point at which
you go this outbreak is big enough? What's that point?

Speaker 2 (02:21):
Well, what we're focusing on at the moment is making
sure we have good contact traces.

Speaker 1 (02:26):
No, no, Karina, question please for parents who are worried, what
is the point?

Speaker 2 (02:34):
The point is that people need to get no no,
no very amaz Listen.

Speaker 1 (02:39):
I'm asking you as a mum of a nine and
a half month old and I'm worried about her, okay,
and I want to get her jab So at what
point are you going to let me jab her under
the age of one? How big is this outbreak?

Speaker 2 (02:51):
Got to get That would be a decision that would
be made by public health.

Speaker 1 (02:57):
So as I say, you guys, haven't got a point
literally just making it up as you go.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
Absolutely not. And if you'll just let me finish, I'd
like to give some information to the public about how
they can best protect themselves.

Speaker 1 (03:12):
No, Karina, We're going to get to themselves. I need
you to answer this question because there are people who
are trying very hard right now and who are prepared
to pay as much as two hundred and sixty dollars
and they're being blocked from doing it.

Speaker 2 (03:23):
Now.

Speaker 1 (03:23):
Do we jab babies traveling overseas?

Speaker 2 (03:27):
That also depends on the risk.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
Yes, we have them. We gab them as early as
six months, so if we do it for babies overseas,
Why are we not doing it for babies who are
in New Zealand, particularly in Wellington where there is an outbreak.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
So that that's a very good point, Heather. So overseas,
for example, for example the UK, where there has been
a very large outbreak, they do not routinely give MMR
zero to under twelve months old. It is once again
a decision that's made by local public health services where

(04:06):
there is a very high risk of transmission in local communities,
at which point the local public health service will advise
people whether they should be getting their children immunized zero.

Speaker 1 (04:20):
Can that you have is the concern the cost of
the JAB, are their potential side effects? Does it do
something to the long term ability to be protected? Why
not do it?

Speaker 2 (04:33):
So it's a balance of risks and benefits. SOMMA zero
doesn't confer long term immunity, so what we really need
to do is immunize everybody who's highly mobile and capable
of spreading measles through the community. So they were really
focused on children and adults and closing that immunity gap.

(04:54):
So we really want to encourage everybody who was able
to to get MMR and you know, I'm sure you're
immunized against the MMR and you're making sure that your siblings, parents,
your aunties and uncles, and problem around.

Speaker 1 (05:13):
If I understood the herd immunity theory, my problem is
because of COVID, we now have anti vaxxers in the
family who have kids who are unvaccinated, and we're coming
up to Christmas and our kids are going to have
to contact those kids. Do we not have a problem
there where we have such sufficient gaps now in our
herd immunity that we should be thinking about jabbing these
little ones.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
So again I would say, let's approach this with empathy
and encourage everyone who is able to to get vaccinated.
We are not at the point where we would routinely
immunize children under the age of twelve months, but again,
we'll continue to track the outbreak and review the evidence,

(05:56):
but again encouraging everybody who is eligible for their EMIMA
JEB to get vaccinated and protect their loved ones.

Speaker 1 (06:05):
Okay, what's the public health message you wanted to get out?

Speaker 2 (06:09):
Just get vaccinated?

Speaker 1 (06:11):
I mean, I mean, we're trying, aren't we?

Speaker 2 (06:15):
We absolutely are, And I really thank you for giving
that message out there. You know people who are unsure
of their immunization status should ask their GP. They can
also contact the Vaccination Help Lane and also look on
my health record. So appreciate you getting the message out

(06:36):
there and we'll all work together to do so.

Speaker 1 (06:39):
You're welcome, Kaarina. Thank you very much for your time.
Appreciated Doctor Corena Gray, who is the Ministry of Health
Director of Public Health. For more from Hither Duplessy Alan Drive,
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