Message to primary care from Imac director Nikki Turner

With the current cases of measles in New Zealand, it’s vital for all people working in primary care to check their vaccination status against measles.

Everyone born before Jan 1, 1969 is assumed to have immunity (endemic measles prior to vaccination programmes). If born on or after Jan 1, 1969, you need to have two documented doses of measles-containing vaccine (usually MMR) with the first dose given after one year of age. If you’re unsure, it is never too late to catch up. Even when you may have had 2 doses, but have no documentation, more doses pose no additional risk.

If non-immune staff come into contact with a measles-infected patient, or work in an area where such a patient has been recently, there is a strong possibility of acquiring measles.

If immunity cannot be determined then staff with such a potential exposure will need to be stood down for a period of time until it is determined if they have immunity or have acquired the disease. This has recently occurred in general practice and can have important implications for staffing issues.

Summary: We are seeing more cases of measles in NZ currently. All front line health care staff born after 1 Jan 1969, PLEASE check your measles immunisation status. If you are not clear, and have no documentation it is important to obtain two doses of MMR vaccine. There is no risk having more vaccine, but it is a risk not being aware of your immune status. If you have an unknown status and come into contact with measles, you will need to be stood down from work during the possible incubation period until immunity status is clarified.