Sunday, 05 January 2025 10:55

RSE workers get immunised

Written by  Staff Reporters
Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers waiting for their Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine at Flaxmere College in Hastings on Sunday 1 December. 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.

More like this

HRT patches decision needs reconsideration - RWNZ

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.

Featured

Case IH partners with Meet the Need

Tractor manufacturer and distributor Case IH has announced a new partnership with Meet the Need, the grassroots, farmer-led charity working to tackle food insecurity across New Zealand one meal at a time.

25 years on - where are they now?

To celebrate 25 years of the Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship, Ravensdown caught up with past recipients to see where their careers have taken them, and what the future holds for the industry.

Rockit Global appoints COO

Rockit Global has appointed Ivan Angland as its new chief operating officer as it continues its growth strategy into 2025.

National

Machinery & Products

Iconic TPW Woolpress turns 50!

The company behind the iconic TPW Woolpress, which fundamentally changed the way wool is baled in Australia and New Zealand,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Keep it up

OPINION: The good fight against "banking wokery" continues with a draft bill to scrap the red tape forcing banks and…

We're OK!

OPINION: Despite the volatility created by the shoot-from-the-hip trade tariff 'stratefy' being deployed by the new state tenants in the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter