Why minister’s good news on immunisation needs a closer look

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Commentary

Why minister’s good news on immunisation needs a closer look

June 2025

Gabrielle Baker

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:30 AM

Good news stats on immunisation rates warrant further investigation but data is not always easy to come by [Image: Wildpixel on iStock]

The Government is celebrating a ‘steady improvement’ in childhood immunisation – but focusing on overall rates can hide who’s being left behind. Gabrielle Baker takes a deeper dive into data and reveals persistent gaps for Māori and high-needs communities

In early May, health minister Simeon Brown issued a media statement to say there has been “steady improvement in childhood immunisation rates across t, Annual childhood immunisation coverage by milestone age, deprivation and ethnicity, 1 January to 31 December 2024 , Annual childhood immunisation coverage by milestone age, deprivation and ethnicity, 1 January to 31 December 2024

Māori Health

Inequity

Unmet Need

Politics

Free Read

References

New Zealand Government. May 2025. See: tinyurl.com/3f3wcsus
See: nzdoctor.co.nz/article/news/senior-hospital-doctors-strike-protest-stalled-pay-talks
New Zealand Government. Immunisation Taskforce. 2022. See: tinyurl.com/yc7xvd4r
Ibid.
New Zealand Government. See: tinyurl.com/bp89mbfy
Ibid.

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