increase font size
Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers waiting for their Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine at Flaxmere College in Hastings on Sunday 1 December.
Over 1,000 Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers in the Hawke’s Bay have now been immunised against measles.
Since August, five immunisation outreach clinics have been held in Hawke’s Bay for RSE scheme workers who have recently arrived in New Zealand from the Pacific to work in the horticultural sector.
Over the past six months, 1205 RSE workers from Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu have been given the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine in the Hawke’s Bay alone.
Project lead, Pacific Health Central regional director, Sipaia Kupa says it’s important to protect these workers and their families back home from another potential measles outbreak and to prevent an outbreak in New Zealand too.
“Measles is one of the most dangerous and contagious diseases,” Kupa says. “If you and your whanau aren’t immunised or aren’t sure, now is the time to check. This is the only way to stop you getting measles.”
The risk of a measles outbreak in New Zealand is currently considered high due to low immunisation rates both nationally and internationally.
In 2019, a measles outbreak in Samoa saw over 3% of the population infected with the disease, resulting in 5,700 cases and 83 deaths.
Director of Pacific public health, Api Poutasi says the initiative is an example of collaboration between teams from Health NZ, the horticulture and viticulture industries, government agencies and Pacific non-government organisations such as Taeaomanino Trust.
“Vaccination is the best protection against measles,” Poutasi says. “This initiative is part of our broader efforts to protect populations that are at-risk of contracting measles, this includes groups like RSE workers but also our tamarki/children.”
The immunisation team was made up of health practitioners from Hawke’s Bay Public Health, Hawke’s Bay Pacific Hospital Specialist Service team and the Pacific Regional Community Hub (PaRCH).
Similar clinics have been run in Bay of Plenty, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson, and Northland as part of this National Public Health Service (NPHS) led, and Pacific Health managed initiative.
Nelson-Tasman, Marlborough and Bay of Plenty are currently planning for RSE worker arrivals in early 2025.
Research lending to the production of dairy products that benefit the elderly and improves the overall wellbeing of all people is a key focus of Fonterra's Research and Development centre, based in Palmerston North.
The Government wants to make sure that rural communities get a level of service that people who live in cities often complacently expect.
A new social enterprise to repay the sacrifice of seasonal workers represents chicken feed for Allain Liu-Vitivae - in all the right ways.
Hato Hone St John is urging Kiwis to have a safe summer this year.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says Pharmac needs to reconsider its decision to fund only one brand of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) patches used by women going through perimenopause and menopause.
Kiwis love their butter, and that's great because New Zealand produces some of the best butter in the world. But when the price of butter goes up, it's tough for some, particularly when many other grocery staples have also gone up and the heat goes on co-operative Fonterra, the country's main butter maker. Here the co-op explains why butter prices are so high right now.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown has waded into the debate around soaring butter prices, pointing out that the demand for dairy overseas dictates the price to farmers and at the supermarket.
Farmers are welcoming new Government proposals to make farm health and safety rules more practical and grounded in real-world farming.
Missing fresh mozzarella cheese made at home in Bari, southern Italy, Massimo Lubisco and his wife Marina decided to bring a taste of home to New Zealand.
An A$2 billion bid for Fonterra's Oceania business would be great news, according to Forsyth Barr senior analyst, equities, Matt Montgomerie.
Irish meat processor Dawn Meats is set to acquire a 70% stake in Alliance Group, according to a report in The Irish Times.
OPINION: Your old mate's ear has been chewed off recently by farmers voicing their displeasure with the National Party, particularly…
OPINION: Your old mate hears that at a recent China Business Summit, PM Christopher Luxon delivered a none-too-subtle "could try…
