Immunisation

Childhood immunisation coverage information from the National Immunisation Register (NIR) shows that in 2014, at the age of 8 months, 88.9% of Māori children had completed age-appropriate immunisations, compared with 91.9% of total New Zealand children. By 2 years of age, the coverage rates were 91.9% for Māori children and 92.8% for total New Zealand children. Further data are available from the NIR at National and DHB immunisation data.

Between 2008 and 2016, HPV immunisation was free for girls and young women up to their 20th birthday, including non-residents under the age of 16 and living in New Zealand for eight months or more. On 1 January 2017, HPV immunisation became free for everyone, male and female, aged 9 to 26, including non-residents under the age of 18. HPV immunisation aims to protect young people from HPV infection and the risk of developing cervical cancer and a range of other HPV diseases later in life. The average HPV immunisation coverage rate (for completion of all 3 doses) for all girls born between 1997 and 2001 was 57.5%; the coverage rate was higher for Māori girls (63.4%). More information about the programme can be found at HPV immunisation programme.

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