DHBs plead for help with anti-vaxxers, amidst measles outbreak

District health boards have anti-vaxxers in their sights, saying diseases almost eradicated in New Zealand are being seen again.

DHB members went to Parliament to answer health select committee questions, including why increasing numbers of parents are refusing to have their children immunised.

Bay of Plenty DHB chief executive Helen Mason says they have achieved five of the six health targets set by the previous government, but "immunisation hasn't moved and has actually deteriorated. [she says] It really, really worries us."

The DHB has tried things including reconfiguring its immunisation service and adopting methods used by successful DHBs but it was at the point where it needed to do something completely different, she said.

Board chairwoman Sally Webb says the issue of anti-vaxxers and their negative effects is something that needs to be looked at nationally.

The warning comes amidst a measles outbreak in Canterbury.

There's been an outbreak of influenza-like symptoms among the Otago student population.

Also in today's Front Page, shots fired at a New Zealand school, Queenstown wants a visitor levy, and a viral video shows we've all been eating pineapple wrong.

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