National Health Advisory Notification of measles update and travel advice to the Pacific FOR THE ATTENTION OF: Received this email directly 1) DHB Single Points of Contact 2) DHB Emergency Planners / Managers 3) Public Health Unit Managers Forward required 4) Medical Officers of Health 5) Chief Medical Officer 6) Director of Nursing 7) Relevant clinical and non-clinical staff in your DHB 8) GP Liaison Officers 9) Communications Managers 10) Any other deemed necessary by your organisation
ACTIONS: 1. Forward internally within your organisation as per the 'attention of section' above 3. PHU Managers to please forward to Medical Officers of Health who may not be on the distribution list above. 4. Please forward to your primary care contacts including: general practitioners, pharmacists and primary health organisations in your region.
ADVISORY SUMMARY: Thank you for the work you have been doing to combat the measles outbreak in New Zealand, all the while continuing to deliver high quality health services. Your work has certainly made a significant difference. Measles update The current national priorities for MMR vaccination are: • ensure all children receive their vaccinations on time at 15 months (12 months in Auckland) and four years to maintain the national Childhood Immunisation Schedule •
susceptible close contacts within 72 hours of first exposure to measles when possible
• babies aged six months to 11 months who live in Auckland or who are travelling to Auckland or overseas to a country that has an active outbreak of measles •
children and adolescents aged 15 and under who have not had a single dose of MMR
• in accordance with the National Immunisation Schedule, all children under five who have not received either dose of MMR should be actively recalled. We consider active recall of this group to be in line with the priority groups. •
people under the age of 50 travelling from New Zealand to Samoa, Tonga, Philippines and Fiji
• People travelling to a region where there is an active outbreak of measles – regions with measles outbreaks can be found at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/measles-global