MEDIA RELEASE
Hep A: 1,000 protected but more still need to be vaccinated
24 October 2013
Over one thousand preschoolers in Ashburton, Rakaia and Methven have received free hepatitis A vaccinations as part of
Canterbury DHB’s response to the outbreak.
Eight hundred and eighty-seven children aged over 12 months and under five years were vaccinated at six vaccination
clinics, and 127 pre-schoolers were vaccinated at preschool clinics.
Dr Alistair Humphrey, Canterbury Medical Officer of Health, congratulated the Ashburton community for their great
response.
“This is a fantastic effort by the Ashburton community. A few more vaccinations and we will be well within a level of
coverage which will prevent further spread,” Dr Humphrey says.
"The clinics have been very busy, but poor weather conditions probably kept families away early on. We need to vaccinate
at least 120 more preschoolers to achieve 70% coverage so it’s important families go to their General Practice team to
get their young children immunised.”
“If you have a preschool child over 12 months old you can still take them to your General Practice team where the
vaccination will be free of charge.
“If you have already had your children vaccinated well done, but if you know of a family that has not taken advantage of
the free vaccine please let them know that it is still available from their GP.
“As well as providing immunity to the child, the vaccine also protects their older siblings, family, friends and anyone
who may come into contact with them,” Dr Humphrey says.
The hepatitis A outbreak began in Ashburton in April this year. So far there has been 28 confirmed cases, ranging in age
from 14 months to 53 years. The last case was notified on 28th August 2013.
The disease is transmitted when people fail to wash their hands properly after going to the toilet. As preschoolers are
generally hand-washing novices, spread of the disease is often through this group. Nearly every case in the Ashburton
outbreak had a direct contact with an infected preschooler.
ENDS