Vaccine
Nurses gave babies in Samoa deadly vaccines
Samoa's Ministry of Health has confirmed that the deaths of two babies last year were caused by nurses mixing the wrong liquid with their MMR vaccines. The two nurses will be sentenced this month… Audio
Northland schools encouraged to exclude unvaccinated kids
Northland's low immunisation rates have left health officials scrambling to ensure it doesn't spread - and principals are being encouraged to exclude students who haven't had their jabs. Reporter Nita… Video, Audio
Low vax rates alarm Northland DHB as winter approaches
Low vaccination rates for meningococcal disease have health authorities in Northland fearing the worst, with winter on the way. Despite an intensive emergency programme over summer, they've managed to… Audio
Facebook: a vehicle for anti-vaccination movement.
Disturbing figures released last week by the World Health Organisation shows a big increase in the number of reported measels cases. In Europe, the number of cases went from 5,273 in 2016 , to 25,863… Audio
Officials flat-footed on Meningococcal W outbreak - MP
Whangārei's MP has accused the government of being slow to respond to the meningoccal outbreak in Northland, making the vaccine roll-out programme less effective.
Samoa police charge nurse over baby vaccine deaths
The police in Samoa have charged a nurse over the death of two babies last month. The babies died minutes after they received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which prompted the Samoa… Audio
GP's plea to parents: save your kids from disfiguring cancer
Cases of head and neck cancer are increasing at a faster rate than other cancers, yet a cure for one of the causes is being turned down too often, according to Whangarei doctor Andrew Miller. In… Audio
Tracking flu around New Zealand
ESR has developed a new way of tracking the spread of flu in real time. The Flu dashboard feeds in information from hospitals, doctors, Healthline and laboratories around the country, testing which… Audio
New vaccine development kick-starts powerful immune response
Researchers have developed an exciting new vaccine substance that could lead to improved immune responses and reduced side-effects for existing vaccines. It could also play a role in developing… Audio
Rethinking how NZ deals with meningococcal disease
Paediatrician Professor Andrew Pollard is a world expert on vaccination; he advises the World Health Organisation and is the Chair of the United Kingdom's Joint Committee on Vaccination and… Audio
Chickenpox vaccine soon free for children
A free, one-dose vaccine against chickenpox will be given at 15-months-old and for children turning 11 who had never been infected or immunised. Audio
Trump appoints vaccine sceptic to launch review
US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed a vaccine sceptic, Robert F Kennedy, to chair a commission on vaccine safety and scientific integrity.
Pacific free flu vaccine delivery stopped
United Airlines has discontinued the service of shipping free flu vaccines to the Pacific Islands.
Pharmac announces funding for chickenpox, HPV vaccines
Chicken pox and HPV may become things of the past after New Zealand's drug buyer Pharmac announced further funding today for vaccines to prevent them. Audio
Dementia vaccine may be just years away
A vaccine which would prevent and even reverse the early stages of Alzheimer's and dementia should be ready for human testing within the next two to three years. We talk to Maurice Curtis from the… Audio
Free HPV shots will save boys' lives - doctors
Introducing free vaccinations to protect boys against human papillomavirus will prevent many suffering from cancers of the mouth and tongue, say doctors.
Anti-cancer vaccine for boys being considered
Pharmac is considering offering an anti-cancer vaccine to boys from next year.
Doctors seek HPV vaccine funding for boys
Doctors are pushing for an anti-cancer vaccine funded only for girls be extended to boys and young men. Audio
Calls for action on chickenpox vaccine
A senior paediatric surgeon says the government is neglectful and irresponsible for not fully funding the chickenpox vaccine to all children. Brendon Bowkett is a paediatric surgeon working in the… Audio
WHO discusses progress on Ebola vaccines and treatments
Nyka Alexander is a spokesperson on Ebola for the World Health Organisation, the United Nations health agency. Audio