The Government is being warned it cannot afford to relax over an immunisation milestone and more hard work is needed.
A turnaround to previously poor immunisation rates in New Zealand was revealed on Thursday, with 90% of two-year-olds now fully immunised and a narrowing of the gap between Maori and other groups.
The Ministry of Health says hard work has lifted rates for young children from 73% four years ago to 90% - a record high.
It says 95% coverage is needed and that will be difficult, but can be achieved.
The new immunisation figures were released by the Government as it issued its response to recommendations from Parliament's health select committee on boosting immunisation.
The Immunisation Advisory Centre at Auckland University says the progress is good, but extra resources may well be needed to enable the 95% target to be reached.
