4 Dec 2019

Clinic sorry for not giving Samoan boy MMR vaccine in Auckland

From Checkpoint, 5:15 pm on 4 December 2019

RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch asked the Prime Minister on Wednesday afternoon if it is acceptable a clinic in New Zealand denied Samoan toddler Frederick his MMR booster shot on Monday.

She said it is outrageous and she will be talking to the Health Minister.

Dr Allan Moffitt is the Clinical Director of Procare, the Primary Health Organisation that oversees the clinic that denied the 15-month-old boy a vaccine before he returned to Samoa unimmunised.

"Firstly I want to apologise that Frederick didn't get vaccinated before leaving NZ. That should have happened.

"They understood because the person wasn't eligible for normal health services that they didn't qualify for immunisation. But the schedule has always been clear non-NZers qualify for immunisation & [under-18s] for free vaccinations."