Podcasts about immunisation advisory centre

Flu season has hit the northern hemisphere hard - with many countries experiencing their highest case numbers in years. Many will be lining up at workplaces or doctors offices to get the annual flu vaccine to avoid becoming one of those numbers here - but there's more than one jab on offer - with some practices offering so called 'advanced' flu vaccines. Immunisation Advisory Centre medical adviser, Dr Edwin Reynolds spoke to Lisa Owen.

An immunisation leader says there's no quick fix for whooping cough and people should get vaccinated now. Immunisation Advisory Centre founder Dr Nikki Turner spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A whooping cough epidemic has been declared in Aotearoa. In the past four weeks, there have been 263 cases of whooping cough (Pertussis) - the highest number of cases over a month this year. Immunisation Advisory Centre founder Dr Nikki Turner explains what's been happening.

The Health Minister is looking to boost the number of vaccinators to help turn around tanking childhood immunisation rates.Right now, just about 78 percent of all children are fully immunised at 2 years old, the numbers have basically been dropping since 2016 .The government's 2030 target is 95% fully vacinated at 24 months. Today Dr Shane Reti unveiled his plan to get there, it includes expanding the vaccinator workforce, potentially through Plunket, midwives and pharmacies. Investing in GP practices to recall whanau for boosters and running health promotions and effective social media campaigns, Dr Nikki Turner, Medical Advisor to the Immunisation Advisory Centre spoke to Lisa Owen.

Winter illnesses are beginning to creep into our consciousness and children can be some of the worse hit. This year there are also real worries about the possbility of a measles outbreak. So what can we do to stay well. We talk to the Medical Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre, Nikki Turner. Peter Hook, the co founder of Joy Division and New Order, is touring New Zealand and he talks about making a life out of music. Plus a great problem - too many kiwi.

New modelling suggests hospitalisations from the country's latest Covid-19 wave will peak this week. There have been 7,417 new cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand last week with a further 27 further deaths attributed to the virus. Meanwhile, the new JN.1 Covid variant is on the rise and New Zealand's supply of the antiviral medication Paxlovid are running low. Professor Nikki Turner is the director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre at the University of Auckland. Turner spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

There's a distinct 'lack of urgency' to get the latest covid booster - and experts say that needs to change. The updated Omicron-targeted vaccine has been available for those over 30 years old since the start of April. Dr Nikki Turner, medical director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre, believes there are a range of reasons why uptake has been slow.

Warnings letting a couple reject "jabbed" blood donations for their baby would set a dangerous precedent. It's understood Health New Zealand is seeking court guardianship of the unwell four-month-old, with a court hearing set down for next Tuesday. The parents won't allow doctors to use blood given by people vaccinated against Covid-19 for his crucial heart surgery. Instead, the pair want to use their own donors. The Immunisation Advisory Centre's Nikki Turner says it could create the wrong assumptions. "We've got to match the individual and then we've got to screen the blood for a whole lot of real scary issues like viruses, like HIV, and hepatitis. There's a proper process to go through to ensure our people have safe blood." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Omicron case numbers and reinfections rise, could the country benefit from making a second booster shot more widely available? The answer from one immunologist is a firm, 'no'. At the moment people over the age of 50, the immune-compromised and healthcare, aged care and disability workers are all eligible for a second booster shot, if it's been six months since their first. Professor Nikki Turner, Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre, explains why second booster shots aren't being given to younger people just yet.

Disappointment over the numbers of health workers yet to get the flu vaccine.Health Ministry data shows only around 54 percent of DHB staff have received the jab so far.Meanwhile, Wellington's district health boards have paused non-urgent care, due to an unprecedented level of staff absence.National Immunisation Advisory Centre's Nikki Turner told Mike Hosking we all know what impact getting the flu jab has.She says it's about trying to support the sector, and flu vaccination makes a difference.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It may end up unlikely that we'll need to get a Covid-19 vaccine each year.Immunisation experts say we now know that six months after most of us were boosted, immunity is still looking good.This comes as officials decide whether to start offering a fourth dose to our most vulnerable.Nikki Turner, Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre joined Tim Dower.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fears of a new measles outbreak have health authorities ramping up calls for people to get vaccinated.   This includes Southern DHB that's urging kiwis to get their measles, mumps and rubella vaccines as the borders open up.   National Immunisation Advisory Centre Director Nikki Turner told Mike Hosking take-up of many non-Covid related vaccines has reduced lately.   “Communities just need to support them and remind them how urgent the issue is, this is an international problem.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A vaccine expert says the justifications used for mandates now don't apply as much. Act leader David Seymour wants to see a move away from mandates, claiming the only thing they're currently good for, is creating division.Immunisation Advisory Centre medical advisor Peter McIntyre told Mike Hosking they were brought in to protect the health system and to reduce transmission of the virus.“Both of those have changed with Omicron. We know the chances of severe disease have lessened, but still for the over-50s, they're significant.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Immunisation Advisory Centre Medical Advisor Professor Peter McIntyre has told Checkpoint there has been "mandate creep" in schools where children are not mandated to be vaccinated, but are being banned from sports and other extracurricular activities if they are not vaccinated. He suggested there is room for change with mandates with Omicron. He said the argument for mandates was twofold - protecting the health system, and second, protecting the community. "And I think that second one is just much less something we can do with Omicron. "And we know we're in a fantastic position with the first one, so I think the game has shifted."

Immunisation Advisory Centre director Dr Nikki Turner joins Checkpoint to discuss why booster shots were brought forward from four to three months after a second dose of the Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine. She says it's unlikely healthy people will continue to need booster shots, but they might become a yearly event, such as flu vaccines, for those who are vulnerable and at high risk. 

Boosters are being bolstered around the country, with the wait time between second and third doses shortened to 3 months. More needles are going into more arms and the bravest of us can feel a little bit challenged. It turns out, there's plenty of suggestions or myths to make it a little more pleasant, but just how true are they? The RNZ office has heard a few rumours about how to avoid some of the post-booster symptoms, and we put them to Immunisation Advisory Centre director Dr Nikki Turner. Would getting the vaccine in my dominant arm pump the blood around more and reduce the lingering pain? "It actually doesn't matter which arm you get the vaccine, and you have a choice, both arms will work the same, there won't be any difference," Dr Turner said. "Some people we suggest get your vaccine in the arm that you're not going to sleep on, because people find it very uncomfortable sleeping if it's a bit painful afterwards. "Some people would prefer not to use their dominant arm as they use their dominant arm a lot of physical things, and it might be uncomfortable." Will drinking plenty of water ease the side-effects? "Drinking plenty of water won't make any difference to the vaccine response. "It's a good general principle particularly in heat and if we're feeling a bit stressed or anxious to keep up our fluid, but it's not specifically related to the vaccine or the vaccine response." If I alternate which arm I get vaccinated in, will it prevent swollen glands in my armpits? "You can get swollen glands in your armpit after a vaccine, but it will settle, and it will settle before the next one. "So, it really doesn't matter whether you have the next one in the same arm or in a different arm." Should I get the vaccine on my day off so I don't get it when I am stressed? "It's a great idea," Dr Turner said. "The problem is at the moment most of us are stressed a fair bit, so you probably can't avoid a degree of stress. "Our immune system is fine about having a small degree of stress. So, go in and get your vaccine when you can manage it. Don't delay is the message now." The myths have now been well and truly busted by the expert, but Dr Nikki Turner did have some tips to make a shot more pleasant. "Keep the arm relaxed that you're going to get the vaccine in, you drop the arm down next to you. "You take a few small breaths before the vaccine to drop your shoulders down and more relaxed arm makes a more comfortable experience with vaccination." For those afraid of needles, it's a very common problem so there's no need to feel embarrassed. Dr Turner suggested you talk to the vaccinator about it and wiggle the fingers of your opposite hand. "The vaccine experience itself is actually very rapid," she said. "Getting yourself through it in the moment and feeling confident afterwards will make you feel better afterwards as well. "It makes us less likely to feel dizzy or faint or some of us over breathe and get chest pains. "Some of the reactions we can have after a vaccine are really following through from our needle phobia and our fears. Dr Turner said lifehacks aside the most important thing was that you get vaccinated and as soon as possible.

I just wonder if we're freaking out a bit too much about Omicron.   It's pretty clear that some people are quite alarmed, including Michael Baker who wants us to “turn down the tap” on Kiwis coming in from places like the UK to keep it out.  There is no doubt if you look at the reports from overseas that Omicron is super infectious. A University of Hong Kong study reckons it multiplies 70 times faster in the bronchial tubes than Delta, which might explain why it spreads faster.And it's definitely driving a spike of cases in the UK. But at this stage, that's about it.It doesn't look like it's killing people or sending them to hospital at nearly the rate of the OG variants. The UK reported nearly 90,000 cases yesterday, which is a record high, but they've only recorded one Omicron death and he was unvaccinated.NSW has had recorded a huge of number of cases today. They think Omicron is in the mix there.But again, hospitalisations are really low. Today they recorded more than 2,200 cases; that's a lot more than their previous peak of 1600 back on September 11. But back then they had 1,164 cases in hospital. Today they have 192.Back then they had 221 people in intensive care. Today they have 26.Back then they had 94 on respirators. Today they have 8.Granted these are early days so information and circumstances can and almost certainly will change.But all I'm hoping to do is just inject a few facts into the hysteria.The PM's already hinting she might delay reopening the international border next month.But ask yourself why? What is the point in keeping it closed? We kept the border closed beforehand for a good reason: To get vaccinated.And now we are vaccinated to 90 per cent across the country. So what's the reason now?   We can't and we know we won't keep Omicron out forever, so what would we buy time for? Boosters? Well according to the Immunisation Advisory Centre the people who need to those boosters for Omicron are the elderly and vulnerable and they're already eligible for boosters.As I say, things might change in the next couple of weeks.But right now, there doesn't seem to be reason to be freaking out quite at the level some people are. 

An expert says New Zealand has time on its side when it comes to rolling out booster shots.Government ministers are meeting today to discuss bringing the booster programme forward.We currently have to wait six months between the second and third vaccine dose but Omicron may prompt that to be shortened.Immunisation Advisory Centre medical advisor Peter McIntyre told Heather du Plessis-Allan we aren't in the same situation in the UK so wouldn't have to reduce to three months.“But I still think it would be prudent to be concentrating on the frontline health workers, border workers on the one hand, older and medically at risk population on the other.”LISTEN ABOVE

Parents and caregivers will soon get the opportunity to have their five-to-11-year-olds vaccinated against Covid-19. Medsafe has granted provisional approval for the vaccine for children in this age group - though Cabinet has the final say. Immunisation Advisory Centre director Professor Nikki Turner spoke to Corin Dann.

Parents and caregivers will soon get the opportunity to have their five-to-11-year-olds vaccinated against Covid-19. Medsafe has granted provisional approval for the vaccine for children in this age group - though Cabinet has the final say. Immunisation Advisory Centre director Professor Nikki Turner spoke to Corin Dann.

Early lab studies suggest two doses of the Pfizer vaccine might not be enough for your body to fight off Omicron, but three doses could do the trick. Three doses provide a similar level of antibodies against Omicron to that of two doses against other variants. Dr Nikki Turner from the Immunisation Advisory Centre spoke to Corin Dann.

Early lab studies suggest two doses of the Pfizer vaccine might not be enough for your body to fight off Omicron, but three doses could do the trick. Three doses provide a similar level of antibodies against Omicron to that of two doses against other variants. Dr Nikki Turner from the Immunisation Advisory Centre spoke to Corin Dann.

Fletch, Vaughan & Megan had a chat with Dr Nikki Turner, Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre at the University of Auckland.             Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Cabinet has agreed to make the Pfizer vaccine available for 12-15 year olds from 1 September. This after Medsafe - following the lead of many of its overseas counterparts - gave a provisional thumbs-up in June. So, do parents have anything to worry about, over and above the usual concerns for anybody getting a jab? How necessary is it for this group to be done now? Dr Nikki Turner from the Immunisation Advisory Centre spoke to Corin Dann.

This episode is a bit different. It is still a great New Zealander, there's no two ways about that. Today's guest is Dr Nikki Turner, director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre, an academic General Practitioner and an Associate Professor in the Division of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland. Dr Nikki Turner is here to talk about the COVID Vaccine. I, like many, have become extremely concerned at the level of misinformation, rumours, lies, hearsay - you catch my drift - about Covid and in particular, around the vaccine rollout. I'm concerned and scared that scientists and experts aren't being listened to, but your Mum's cousin's Aunt on Facebook is, or the Yoga influencer on Instagram has miraculously overnight become more qualified than an epidemiologist. We are, without doubt, in a terribly uncertain and scary time, but that should be all the more reason to listen to the advice of people whose job it is to keep us healthy, keep us safe. I wanted to use my platform in a way that gives you one of these people, gives you the answers, gives you clarity and certainty. God knows that is what we all need right now.

The government appears to be committed to an elimination strategy when it comes to dealing with Covid-19 in Aotearoa, even after most people have had the vaccine. How feasible is it? Dr Nikki Turner is the Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre. She discusses the issue with Lisa Owen.  

A top public health professor says New Zealand will need to change its Covid-19 elimination strategy as our borders open to more high-risk countries. Today the Prime Minister outlined expectations around border restrictions over the coming months - she's warning that the number of places we can open up to will remain limited until the vaccine rollout is complete. Professor Peter McIntyre is a medical advisor to the Immunisation Advisory Centre - he says it's still not clear whether the government wants to keep its elimination goal as we open the borders.

Days out from the Cook Islands opening its doors to New Zealand, a group of experts have touched down to support the country's Covid-19 vaccination rollout. Representatives from New Zealand's Immunisation Advisory Centre will help educate the medical workforce around preparation and administration of the Pfizer vaccine. Nobody among the 17,000-strong Cook Islands population has contracted the virus and locals hope it stays that way after quarantine-free travel from New Zealand begins this Sunday. Immunisation Advisory Centre national manager Loretta Roberts, who is among the specialist group who arrived last night, spoke to Corin Dann.

Days out from the Cook Islands opening its doors to New Zealand, a group of experts have touched down to support the country's Covid-19 vaccination rollout. Representatives from New Zealand's Immunisation Advisory Centre will help educate the medical workforce around preparation and administration of the Pfizer vaccine. Nobody among the 17,000-strong Cook Islands population has contracted the virus and locals hope it stays that way after quarantine-free travel from New Zealand begins this Sunday. Immunisation Advisory Centre national manager Loretta Roberts, who is among the specialist group who arrived last night, spoke to Corin Dann.

The next six to eight weeks are "crucial" for the Covid vaccine rollout, according to a member of the Covid 19 Technical Advisory Group, and Medical Director of the College of GPs, Dr Bryan Betty. Another 1.7 million New Zealanders are due to get the call up from later this month, as part of "Group 3". This group includes over 75s, those over 65, and people with underlying health conditions, in that order - but guidance on exactly what is considered a relevant health condition is still being finalised. How the two doses will be administered to this much larger group is also yet to be finalised. The Ministry of Health has asked general practitioners and pharmacies for expressions of interest in being part of the wider roll-out along with mass vaccination centres. Kathryn speaks with Dr Bryan Betty, Dr Nikki Turner of the Immunisation Advisory Centre and Andrew Gaudin, Chief Executive of the Pharmacy Guild. [image:257976:full]

The next six to eight weeks are "crucial" for the Covid vaccine rollout, according to a member of the Covid 19 Technical Advisory Group, and Medical Director of the College of GPs, Dr Bryan Betty. Another 1.7 million New Zealanders are due to get the call up from later this month, as part of "Group 3". This group includes over 75s, those over 65, and people with underlying health conditions, in that order - but guidance on exactly what is considered a relevant health condition is still being finalised. How the two doses will be administered to this much larger group is also yet to be finalised. The Ministry of Health has asked general practitioners and pharmacies for expressions of interest in being part of the wider roll-out along with mass vaccination centres. Kathryn speaks with Dr Bryan Betty, Dr Nikki Turner of the Immunisation Advisory Centre and Andrew Gaudin, Chief Executive of the Pharmacy Guild. [image:257976:full]

The Ministry of Health says there are 287,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the country awaiting distribution with just over 71,000 first doses and 19,000 second doses administered so far. The Health Minister says the current rate of vaccination is around 6,000 thousand per day, and expects this to hit 10,000 per day by the end of this month, and 40,000 to 50,000 by "late May/June". Is progress fast enough? Are enough vaccinators trained and on the job? And what are the complexities and challenges of reaching vaccination targets? Kathryn talks with Dr Nikki Turner, director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre and Dr Rawiri McKree Jansen from the National MÄori Pandemic Group - Te Ropu Whakakaupapa Uruta, also part of the government's Immunisation Implementation Advisory Group.

An immunisation expert says the vaccine's doing its job because a Covid-19 infected MIQ cleaner isn't sick.The Grand Millennium worker had their second Pfizer dose a few days before testing positive.They are asymptomatic, and one family member has returned a weak positive result.Immunisation Advisory Centre director Nikki Turner told Heather du Plessis-Allan the vaccine helps reduce serious symptoms, as well as spread of the virus."What many people don't realise is that you can still carry the virus."No vaccine in the world is going to stop us completely from carrying the virus in the back of our throat."LISTEN ABOVE 

New Zealand's first MIQ worker to receive the Covid-19 vaccination has spoken of the human cost of working on the frontline battling the deadly virus.Lynette Faiva - who works at the Jet Park managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) centre used for Covid-positive cases - received her jab yesterday as part of the biggest vaccination project in New Zealand history.Shortly after she got her vaccination, health bosses confirmed there were no new community cases, but two more in MIQ facilities.Speaking to media, Faiva revealed how tough working in the pressured - and potentially dangerous - environment had on what should be everyday family life."When I get home I can't hug my family. I have to jump in the shower first, get all my clothes off and put it in the laundry."Those are the things I have to follow through with when I go home because it would absolutely devastate me if I was to take the virus home with me and they would catch it," Faiva said.She said she was going home to tell her family the vaccine was nothing to be afraid of."I didn't feel anything. It was like a small prick. I'm going to tell them it doesn't hurt and it was really easy," Faiva said.She said it was a privilege to be the first to receive the vaccine and was grateful for the opportunity."It was about providing another layer of protection."Another Jet Park staffer who got the jab spoke of the mental toll and stigma attached to working on the frontline.Drew Leafa said the stigma and how they could be victimised by working on the frontline was tough."I love my rugby and I couldn't play last year because I didn't want the team to find out where I was working. I'm aware if you see people coughing and you wear your mask and the stigma you get around that, especially when people find out we are at Jet Park."He said his team were trying to let people know that what they were doing was for the country."We are doing our job to protect all the Kiwis returning home, make them feel welcome and when they leave there that they feel like they are being looked after."It is hard because everywhere you go, you are scanning your QR code, I have sanitiser in my car, I've got sanitiser in my bag. It's being cautious in every way there is to make sure we have to led by example," Leafa said.About 12,000 border and MIQ workers will be vaccinated over the next couple of weeks before their household contacts and then later the remaining general public.Deatils of the wider public roll out, set to start in the second half of the year, was still be finalised.Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said yesterday's vaccinations marked a significant step forward in the fight against Covid-19."A milestone that protects those at highest risk of getting the virus and helping to reduce the risk of spreading into the community."Bloomfield said New Zealanders need to remember this pandemic is the most significant global public health challenge in a century and management it will require all our efforts for some time to come."Even though vaccinations have begun, it's important everyone stays vigilant and sticks to the basics: staying home if unwell and getting advice about having a test, washing hands and coughing and sneezing into the elbow, and wearing masks or face coverings on all public transport."Dr Nikki Turner at today's press conference. Photo / Brett PhibbsDr Nikki Turner, director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre, said people keep asking her how safe the vaccine was and she wanted to reassure the public it was incredibly safe."We are confident about the safety of this vaccine ... there is nothing to worry about with this vaccine," Turner said.text by Emma Russell, NZ Herald

It's too soon to tell whether the Pfizer vaccine is safe for those under the age of 16 yet.Medsafe approved the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 for use in New Zealand week - but only for those 16 and over. Pfizer says kids aged 12-15 are currently enrolled in a vaccine trial, but won't say when the results are expected.Nikki Turner, director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre, told Heather du Plessis-Allan they were aware that the initial clinical tests were only done on people 16, and it's the same for all the vaccines. "We're all waiting for the clinical data to come through on under 16-year-olds."She says we will still have to wait a bit longer for children under 12, but they are expecting the data to come through before the end of the year - which means we could still be able to open our borders before finishing our vaccination program. "If the vaccine do act to stop the spread of disease, even disease that's not symptomatic, then we would be able to vaccinate our population around the young children, and we could still open the borders."She says the key is whether the vaccine stops people spreading the disease. Turner says that data so far from the US shows that the vaccines have a good safety profile, and there is little for people to worry about. LISTEN ABOVE 

Some disease, theoretically, can be eliminated, and stop causing human disease. But it takes a lot of effort of a lot of people to do this, and there are many barriers standing in the way of eradicating diseases. Some of which are not scientific. Music: Lost Radiance - On The Planet Far Away (ver. 1) Sources: Websites – Smallpox (variola) fact sheet. NSW Health. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/smallpox-variola.aspx A brief history of vaccination. The Immunisation Advisory Centre. https://www.immune.org.nz/node/182 Salk announces polio vaccine. History.com. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/salk-announces-polio-vaccine The History of Vaccines. The History of Vaccines. https://www.historyofvaccines.org/timeline/polio The Principles of Disease Elimination and Eradication. Centre for Disease Control. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/su48a7.htm This Week. Global Polio Eradication Initiative. http://polioeradication.org/polio-today/polio-now/this-week/ Guinea Worm Eradication Program. The Carter Centre. https://www.cartercentre.org/health/guinea_worm 28 Guinea Worm Cases Reported in 2018. The Carter Centre. https://www.cartercentre.org/news/features/h/guinea_worm/guinea-worm-update-050619.html Journal Articles - Riedel S. Edward Jenner and the history of smallpox and vaccination. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings. 2005; 18: 21 – 25 Zhang XS, Pebody R, Charlett A, de Angelis D, Birrell P, Kang, H, Baguelin M & Choi YH. Estimating and modelling the transmissibility of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus during the 2015 outbreak in the Republic of Korea. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses. 2017 Sep ; 11(5): 434 – 444. Aly M, Elrobh M, Alzayer M, Aljuhani S & Balhky H. Occurrence of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) across the Gulf Corporation Council countries: Four years up date. PLoSONE. 2017; 12(10): e0183850 Reports – History and Epidemiology of Global Smallpox Eradication. From the training course titled "Smallpox: Disease, Prevention, and Intervention". The CDC and the World Health Organization. Slide 16-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20160510161824/http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/training/overview/pdf/eradicationhistory.pdf