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Middle-class parents worried about the possible side effects of vaccination are partly to blame for an "epidemic" of measles, a child health expert says.
The claim comes as the Health Ministry said there were 90 measles cases notified so far this year, more than seven times the total number of cases for all of last year.
The ministry is preparing a national measles strategy as fears grow that a Canterbury outbreak will spread across the country.
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians paediatrics chairman, Johan Morreau, said even one case of measles was considered an epidemic because it showed immunisation rates were too low and there was no "herd immunity".
"This is because of kids falling through the system and missing out on vaccinations, and also because of middle-class parents who are worried about side effects."
There was a tiny chance of children developing brain inflammation, which could result in mental retardation from the measles vaccination, Dr Morreau said.
"But they are 1000 times more likely to get that from an illness like measles, so the benefits of immunisation far outweigh the risks."
The National Immunisation Register, a database of children's immunisation records, shows that about 86 per cent of two-year-olds have had their first dose of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.
Dr Morreau remembered visiting psychopaediatric hospitals as a young doctor, that were full of children brain-damaged by measles. "We don't see that any more because we have vaccinations, but there's a real danger that if immunisation rates drop, we'll see more children brain- damaged."
A ministry spokeswoman said it was estimated that an immunisation rate of 95 per cent was needed to prevent measles epidemics.
The ministry's chief adviser for population health, Greg Simmons, said the MMR vaccine was "very effective" if children got it on time at 15 months and four years of age.
"Once fully immunised, 90 to 95 per cent of children are protected from measles ... if your child is behind with an immunisation it's never too late to catch up," he said.
If parents suspected their child had measles they should phone a doctor first, rather than taking the child to the surgery, because measles was so infectious.
"It's estimated that up to 13 people could become infected from coming into contact with just one person with this disease," Dr Simmons said.
Most measles cases this year have been in Canterbury (45) and Otago (32). Capital and Coast District Health Board has two reported cases.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/2611375/Parents-to-blame-for-measles
Of course the parents are to blame. If it were left to the freedom of choice we would still have Black Death and smallpox around.
The claim comes as the Health Ministry said there were 90 measles cases notified so far this year, more than seven times the total number of cases for all of last year.
The ministry is preparing a national measles strategy as fears grow that a Canterbury outbreak will spread across the country.
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians paediatrics chairman, Johan Morreau, said even one case of measles was considered an epidemic because it showed immunisation rates were too low and there was no "herd immunity".
"This is because of kids falling through the system and missing out on vaccinations, and also because of middle-class parents who are worried about side effects."
There was a tiny chance of children developing brain inflammation, which could result in mental retardation from the measles vaccination, Dr Morreau said.
"But they are 1000 times more likely to get that from an illness like measles, so the benefits of immunisation far outweigh the risks."
The National Immunisation Register, a database of children's immunisation records, shows that about 86 per cent of two-year-olds have had their first dose of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.
Dr Morreau remembered visiting psychopaediatric hospitals as a young doctor, that were full of children brain-damaged by measles. "We don't see that any more because we have vaccinations, but there's a real danger that if immunisation rates drop, we'll see more children brain- damaged."
A ministry spokeswoman said it was estimated that an immunisation rate of 95 per cent was needed to prevent measles epidemics.
The ministry's chief adviser for population health, Greg Simmons, said the MMR vaccine was "very effective" if children got it on time at 15 months and four years of age.
"Once fully immunised, 90 to 95 per cent of children are protected from measles ... if your child is behind with an immunisation it's never too late to catch up," he said.
If parents suspected their child had measles they should phone a doctor first, rather than taking the child to the surgery, because measles was so infectious.
"It's estimated that up to 13 people could become infected from coming into contact with just one person with this disease," Dr Simmons said.
Most measles cases this year have been in Canterbury (45) and Otago (32). Capital and Coast District Health Board has two reported cases.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/2611375/Parents-to-blame-for-measles
Of course the parents are to blame. If it were left to the freedom of choice we would still have Black Death and smallpox around.
It's really hard to try to reason with them, and one indeed hopes that God WILL look after their kids when their parents won't.