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NZ leads in researching vaccinations during pregnancy but lags in the uptake

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Feb 2017, 7:04AM
(Stock Xchng).

NZ leads in researching vaccinations during pregnancy but lags in the uptake

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Feb 2017, 7:04AM

UPDATED 8.25am New Zealand is leading the way in research into vaccinations during pregnancy but is lagging behind other parts of the world in the number of women who do it.

LISTEN ABOVE: Dr Thomas Breuer spoke to Mike Hosking 

That's according to Dr Thomas Breuer, the chief medical officer of GSK Vaccines, who's visiting New Zealand.

He said New Zealand was a pioneer in research that changed global guidelines on maternal vaccinations for diseases such as whooping cough and influenza.

The Ministry of Health funds vaccination against whooping cough for all pregnant women from 28 to 38 weeks' gestation.

However, the New Zealand figure for maternal immunisation is estimated to be as low as 13 per cent compared to almost 80 per cent in parts of Australia and 70 per cent in the UK.

The immunisation works by passing through the placenta to the baby, helping to protect it after birth.

Dr Breuer told Mike Hosking it's solid research but it's not being communicated properly.

"Mothers should also be educated that this is now really a well accepted approach to protect the infant in the first three months of life then the vaccination cannot kick in.

"People want to be reassured -- because during pregnancy women are not only accountable for themselves but also for the unborn baby -- that this approach is safe."

 

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