The future of vaccines, along with immunisation strategies to protect and empower Aotearoa communities were the focus of a recent National Immunisation Workshop.

Around 170 health professionals, including frontline vaccinators and healthcare workers, attended the workshop – held by the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) and Health New Zealand – to hear the latest clinical advice and information on immunisation in New Zealand.

Professor Peter McIntyre’s presentation focused on elimination strategies for three vaccine preventable diseases – polio, measles and tetanus. It also celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization and the advances made since the global health initiative was launched by the World Health Organization in 1974 with the aim of making vaccines available to all.

IMAC principal medical advisor Dr Nikki Turner focused on new vaccines and the future of vaccines globally, while Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora gave an update on the national immunisation programme.

A range of sessions looked at how to protect communities from diseases such as whooping cough, RSV, influenza, meningitis and hepatitis B,and strategies for empowering communities to improve equitable vaccine coverage rates –  including a look at the Vaccine Barrier Assessment Tool (VBAT), developed by NZ and Australian researchers (including IMAC members), and a South Auckland church-based initiative to boost immunisation rates.  

The day finished with a presentation from Dr Sam Marsh on progress of the new national immunisation coverage research collaboration group (ImmCoR) – a network of researchers and research teams throughout New Zealand.  

You can view recordings of four of the National Immunisation Workshop sessions on the IMAC website here

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