18 Dec 2019

2019 - the year of measles

From Nine To Noon, 9:50 am on 18 December 2019
More than 120 vaccination teams went out on Thursday across Samoa. We were told at the end of the day about 5500 vaccinations were given out on the first day of the government shutdown.

Photo: RNZ / Logan Church

This year New Zealanders were reminded of just how dangerous measles could be, as cases spiked around the country - and particularly in Auckland.  The epidemic turned deadly in Samoa, where 73 people - mainly young children - have died. Kathryn talks to Dr Nikki Turner from the Immunisation Advisory Centre on the disease's devastation, and what it might mean for the country's measles elimination status.