Release of Latest Tier 1 Statistics and HPV Data

Kia ora koutou e ngā kaimahi,

Earlier today the following data was published on the Ministry of Health website:

• Childhood Immunisation Tier 1 Data for the most recent quarter (Q1, 1 July 2022 – 30 September 2022) and the last 12 months (1 October 2021 – 30 September 2022).
  National and DHB immunisation data | Ministry of Health NZ
  
• HPV Immunisation coverage to 30 September 2022 for the 2008 birth cohort.
  HPV immunisation programme | Ministry of Health NZ

Action: Please find below the key messages for you to share with your networks – thank you.  

Key messages

• The latest data for Childhood Immunisations for the quarter to 30 September shows that coverage remains short of the goal of 95%, at 83.4% (down 0.3 from previous quarter).
• The latest results continue to highlight a persistent equity gap for tamariki Māori at all milestone ages compared to the total coverage, with the rate at 8 months falling from 69.32% to 68.5% for the quarter. Rates for 24 months (71.5%) and 5 years (71.6%) are comparable to the previous quarter.
• The goal for HPV immunisation coverage is 75%. The latest data for HPV immunisation coverage to 30 September 2022 for the 2008 birth cohort, shows that uptake of dose 1 of the HPV vaccine is the highest it has ever been (75%). Uptake of dose 2 is lower (58.4%) however It is expected that the percentage of eligible rangatahi who are fully vaccinated will return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of June 2023.

• Over the past few years, childhood and young persons’ immunisation rates have been falling across the world – in part due to the impact and pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. New Zealand is part of this global trend.

• The National Immunisation Programme is actively accelerating critical work underway to improve immunisation rates across Aotearoa.In particular, eliminating the vaccination rate equity gap between Māori and non-Māori is a priority for the Programme and it is actively supporting Māori and Pacific providers to build trust with whānau and vaccine confidence.

What is the Programme doing?

• The Programme is committed to lifting childhood immunisation rates and has a range of workstreams underway, which sits in three major areas:

o   Strengthening the workforce

o   Building system enablers

o   Improving and expanding delivery models

• An Immunisation Taskforce has been established and is supporting efforts to improve vaccination coverage, with childhood immunisations its biggest priority. It will recommend actionable changes to lift and sustain vaccination rates.
• The COVID-19 vaccination programme has created new opportunities that can be leveraged to improve our childhood immunisation work. Lessons learned from this programme will play a big part in creating a more culturally responsive and effective immunisation programme that will benefit all of Aotearoa.
• The Programme is working with districts to understand how HPV immunisation is delivered in their area and encouraging districts to consider school-based vaccinations in any immunisation planning or initiatives for 2022/23, particularly for Māori and Pacific rangatahi. 

Ngā mihi nui,

Sandy 

Sandy Thambiah

Senior Adviser, Engagement

National Immunisation Programme

waea pūkoro: +64 21 248 1288| īmēra: sandy.thambiah@health.govt.nz

133 Molesworth Street, Te Whanganui-a-Tara

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