Alexander (Sandy) Milne

I was surprised and disappointed to see that immunisation coverage in Eastern Bay infants has drastically fallen.

I have seen and heard figures of 62 percent coverage, and that sends alarm bells ringing for me.

The target figure for coverage is 95 percent. I am anxious to know the cause of this worrying low uptake of childhood immunisations.

Is it apathy among the parents, lack of encouragement from doctors and nurses, or some other reason like the activities of anti-vaxxers?

If it is the latter, let me reassure parents about the safety and effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccine (one of the vaccines especially needed in our area).

We, in Whakatāne, ran a nation-wide programme many years ago.

Many thousands of infants and children were vaccinated by staff of the Hepatitis Foundation.

There were the expected few minor reactions in the children’s arms, but none were serious or long lasting.

The vaccination campaign was hugely successful, and virtually eliminated hepatitis B as a threat to children.

Anti-vaxxers spread scare tactics about long-term risks from the vaccine. None have occurred in 40 years.

Several of our school or community clinics had been disrupted by groups of misguided opponents of vaccinations.

Some clinics were cancelled, at huge cost in labour and money.

At one time, we in the Eastern Bay had among the highest rates of hepatitis B infections in the developed world.

Not so, anymore, thanks to the continuing efforts of doctors Chris Moyes and Ed Gane and their team of nurses and the support staff.

But we need to continue immunising.

The hepatitis B virus is only one of the infections preventable by childhood immunisation. Other bugs are also dangerous.

All health workers and parents in every ethnic group should continue their efforts and make protecting our children a priority.

And all local healthcare workers should co-operate in dealing to mischief makers.

PS: I have just received an update on immunisation coverage that is very concerning.

The Eastern Bay primary Health Alliance, which covers Whakatāne and the Eastern Bay of Plenty, reports a 52.5 percent full immunisation rate at 24 months. That was in mid-2026.

That is a shocking result, and we need to hear of the plans to check the figures and remedy this right away.