Measles

Measles is a serious disease that can make you very sick. Getting immunised is the best way to protect you, your whānau and community from catching and spreading measles. 

If you’re aged 15-30, you may not have been fully vaccinated against measles. 

• Where can I get immunised
• Māori Health Providers
• How you get Measles
• Symptoms and treatment
• Good reasons to get immunised
• Is the measles (MMR) vaccine safe? 

Where can I get immunised?

The measles vaccination is available at our Northland Vaccination Clinics - check dates/times here 

• Kaitaia - 11 Matthews Avenue
• Kerikeri - 1 Sammaree Place (entrance off Mill Lane)
• Dargaville - Dargaville Hospital - 77 Awakino Road, Dargaville
• Whangārei - Northland Events Centre - 51 Okara Drive
• Te Whatu Ora Drop-in Immunisation Clinics (No appointment is needed at any of these Drop-In clinics):
  • 16 Commerce Street, Whangārei - Thursdays, 8.30am-4pm
  • 29 Rankin Street, Kaikohe - Thursdays, 9am-3.30pm 

You can also get a free vaccination from your Māori Health Provider, doctor or nurse. You can also get immunised from these pharmacies if you are 16 years or older.

Māori Health Providers

How do you get Measles

The measles virus is highly contagious. It is spread through the air by infected droplets or by direct contact with secretions from the nose or throat of infected persons, for example by touching contaminated items or surfaces. It can survive for up to 2 hours in the air. A person with measles is most contagious from when symptoms start until three to four days after the rash appears.

Anyone who has not received at least one dose of a measles-containing vaccine or who has not already had the disease is at risk of catching measles.

Symptoms and treatment

It usually takes 10-12 days from exposure to the first symptom. The illness begins with fever, cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis (inflammation in the eyes), which lasts for 2-4 days. It may be possible to see small white spots (Koplik spots) inside the mouth. A rash appears 2-4 days after the first symptoms, beginning at the hairline and gradually spreading down the body to the arms and legs. The rash lasts for up to one week.

There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles.  Supportive care including good nutrition, vitamin A supplements and adequate fluid intake, including hospital care when needed, can help to manage severe complications. 

Good reasons to get immunised

We recently had a measles outbreak in New Zealand, with more than 2,000 people catching measles in 2019. 700 had to go to hospital. Māori and Pacific peoples were particularly affected. We need 95 percent of people to be immune to reach ‘community immunity' (sometimes known as ‘herd immunity’) and help stop future outbreaks.

Is the MMR vaccine safe?

The chance of having a serious side-effect from the MMR vaccine is extremely rare and would happen within 20 minutes of being immunised. That’s why you’ll be asked to stay for 20 minutes after you have the MMR vaccine. If a severe allergic reaction does happen, the vaccinator can effectively treat it.
Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will talk about possible reactions with you at the time.

There are very few people who can’t be immunised. Talk with your health professional if you’ve had a serious reaction to a vaccine in the past, are being treated for cancer or a severe illness, or had a blood transfusion in the last year. You can’t have the MMR vaccine when you’re pregnant.