22 Dec 2017

Urge for vaccine push after 'rapid rise' of mumps in Auckland

From Morning Report, 8:21 am on 22 December 2017

The Health Ministry is under pressure from Auckland district health boards and others to mount a nationwide effort to combat mumps. There have been more than a thousand cases of mumps in Auckland this year, prompting the regional public health service to label it an epidemic. Both the three DHBs and the health service say there's a real chance of mumps spreading as families move about during the holidays. They're also worried that unless gaps in those vaccinated with the Measles Mumps and Rubella, or MMR vaccine, are tackled, a more serious measles outbreak will follow. The public health director at the Health Ministry is Dr Caroline McElnay, she joins Susie Ferguson with the details.