Starting on Sunday 24 November 2024, Health New Zealand will be hosting a series of measles vaccination clinics in Hawke’s Bay to support seasonal horticultural workers. It is expected around 1400 people will be vaccinated over three Sundays.

The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers will be immunised with the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is funded as part of an agreement to protect our Pacific neighbours, over the next three weekends.

The risk of a measles outbreak in New Zealand is currently considered high, due to low immunisation rates nationally and internationally.

In Samoa the 2019 measles outbreak infected over three percent of the population resulting in 5700 cases and 83 deaths, most of whom were babies and children.

“It’s incredibly important that we not only protect these workers and their families back home from another potential measles outbreak but also prevent an outbreak here in New Zealand too,” says project lead, Pacific Health Central Regional Director, Sipaia Kupa.

The first of the mass immunisation clinics will be held on Sunday 24 November at Flaxmere College in Hastings and will involve RSE workers from Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Subsequent Sunday clinics will be held on 1 December at Flaxmere College and 8 December at Te Papa orchard in Ongaonga, Central Hawke’s Bay.

“The aim is to encourage immunisation in the wider Hawke’s Bay community and right across the country. “Measles is one of the most dangerous and contagious diseases.

If you and your whānau aren’t immunised or aren’t sure, now is the time to check.

This is the only way to stop you getting measles,” Ms Kupa says. “The recent case on Waiheke Island is a reminder to us all to get protected.

“The three Sundays were chosen for the outreach clinics as they are outside operational hours for the vineyards and orchards where the RSE workers will be based.

“The outreach clinics are a collaboration with teams from Health NZ, the horticulture industry, Government agencies, and Pacific non-government organisations such as Taeaomanino Trust,” she says.

The immunisation team will be made up of Hawkes Bay Public Health, Hawke’s Bay Pacific Hospital Specialist Service team and the Pacific Regional Community Hub (PaRCH) team from Auckland.

Similar clinics have been run in Bay of Plenty, Marlborough, Nelson, and Northland as part of this National Public Health Service (NPHS), and Pacific Health managed initiative. 

Further MMR vaccination clinics for RSE workers are planned for Nelson-Tasman, and Marlborough on 14 December, while Bay of Plenty are currently planning for RSE worker arrivals early in 2025.

To provide the best protection against measles, people need to be vaccinated with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. 

A single dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine provides around 95% protection against contracting measles.

The MMR vaccine is free in New Zealand for anyone 18 years or under, and for people over 18 who are eligible for free healthcare.

You can get the vaccine from your usual healthcare, Hauora Māori or Pacific health provider – and it’s never too late to be vaccinated.

For the very best protection, two doses are recommended.

People can also book a vaccine through their GP, health professional or pharmacy. Bookings can also be made online at bookmyvaccine.health.nz or by calling freephone 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 5pm Monday to Friday).