Latest news with #immunisation
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Immunisation Advisory Centre staff cut by nearly 40%, leaked document reveals
University of Otago professor Michael Baker says IMAC's work is vital to increasing immunisation rates, responding to a range of disease threats and rolling-out new vaccines. Photo: University of Otago Wellington / Luke Pilkinton-Ching A public health specialist has warned against cuts to the organisation that provides education, support and clinical advice to the country's immunisation workforce. A leaked internal document from the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) described staff numbers being slashed by almost 40 percent and significant reductions to some services after Health New Zealand more than halved its funding. Neither Health NZ nor UniServices - the University of Auckland company IMAC fell under - would confirm the scale of the cuts or the impact on the centre's workforce. University of Otago professor Michael Baker said IMAC's work was vital in increasing immunisation rates, responding to a range of disease threats and rolling-out new vaccines, especially as the country grappled with low vaccination rates, a whooping cough epidemic and the threat of a measles outbreak . "It's really important work and it's not getting any easier," he said. New Zealand was facing historically low vaccination rates, with childhood immunisation coverage dropping back to levels not seen in about 15 years and overall coverage of 80 percent or less, which was a disaster for controlling infectious diseases, Baker said. He questioned the potential savings from IMAC cuts. "When economists look at vaccinations, it's about the most cost-effective thing you can do for any country. If you vaccinate enough people you actually stop the infection altogether - that's the idea of herd immunity, that's why New Zealand was so lucky to achieve measles elimination a few years ago," he said. Dr Baker says the measles vaccine helped New Zealand to eliminate the disease for a while. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Health NZ insisted it had increased IMAC funding, while UniServices acknowledged the loss of "some funding" had meant a reduction in services. A current staff member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the more sweeping cuts outlined in the restructure document. Both organisations refused to comment further when asked to explain the discrepancy. National Public Health Service director Dr Nick Chamberlain said Health NZ had provided a "significant increase in total baseline funding for IMAC this year". The increase excluded Covid-19 specific contracts, Chamberlain said. UniServices chief executive Greg Murison said IMAC had cut some services, including reduced hours for its clinical communications centre, moved most courses to online only and reduced staff capacity. Since its creation almost 30 years ago, IMAC had held the National Immunisation Education and Co-ordination contract, securing an additional contract in 2020 to provide Covid-19 education and clinical support, he said. Both contracts were rolled into one integrated contract for January 2023 to December 2024, along with some separate Covid-19 funding. IMAC was advised in the middle of last year that Covid-19 funding would likely end from January this year, Murison said. However a "change process confirmation" document obtained by RNZ detailed deep cuts. "Heath NZ have offered less than half of the funding we have previously enjoyed for the next IMAC integrated contract," the document said. "In real terms, the level of funding we have been offered is lower than the funding IMAC had prior to Covid-19." The new contract meant "a significant reduction in education and clinical support services for the immunisation sector", it said. Changes included reduced 0800 IMMUNE service hours (an 0800 number that provided support to vaccinators), a reduction in the number of advisors on each shift, reduced medical advisory availability, a freeze on new courses and post-course support, and a reduction in the number of antigen reviews and updates to the immunisation handbook. The final decision was delayed due to the volume of submissions from staff, who raised concerns about the proposal's risk to clinical safety, saying it "jeopardized the safety and well-being of individuals as well as eroding the public's confidence in the immunisation programme" and hampered the organisation's ability to respond quickly and effectively in a health emergency. The document confirmed just over 16 roles would go, leaving a new structure of 28.9 full time equivalent positions. A "change process confirmation" document obtained by RNZ detailed deep cuts. Photo: RNZ Staff urged UniServices to consider a reduced working week or reduced hours for some jobs to retain more roles. Some staff whose role had been cut complained of finding out in group meetings or via PowerPoint presentations. "This is impersonal, callous, distressing. Left me feeling unsupported and undervalued," one said. The review panel agreed with many of the concerns staff raised and said it had warned Health NZ of clinical safety risks, while risks for the university and its staff had been "communicated at the highest level in the university". The proposed restructure "was not taken lightly and was made on the need to fit resource within the funding envelope". Staff warned job cuts would place additional strain on those left behind, heightening the risk of burn-out and resulting in course cancellations. They described feeling blindsided by the process immediately before Christmas. The panel said the reduced funding was only confirmed in December, despite the contract coming into force on 1 January, which lead to timing it described as "not ideal". A current staff member, who RNZ agreed not to name, said the cuts were anything but minor and disputed Health NZ's claim of boosted funding. "I can definitely confirm funding has been significantly cut and it meant we lost nearly half of our staff at the beginning of the year," she said. "It's significantly impacted our ability to support the sector and it's put our staff under a lot of pressure." She said the restructure was taking a toll on staff. "We're starting to see internally the pressure is building for people who are left, and it means the job is very unenjoyable, which then means senior and experienced staff want to leave," she said. "When we get that sort of exodus of experience, you lose the crux of our organisation essentially, because it is such a complicated environment you can't just backfill those positions with anybody." IMAC had pulled back on working with the university's nursing students and community work with Plunket , which were not considered a priority, while cuts to the 0800 IMMUNE line had the potential for serious flow-on effects, she said. "We service about 150 calls a day and on busy days - flu season and that sort of stuff - it goes up to over 200 calls a day," she said. "A lot of people will turn patients away because they don't feel comfortable vaccinating, or they'll make errors because they couldn't get the information they needed." The Ministry of Health would not comment on whether a separate contract providing vaccine training, information and communications support in the Pacific Islands had also been reduced, citing commercial sensitivity. A polio epidemic was confirmed in Papua New Guinea last month. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Leaked document reveals Immunisation Advisory Centre could cut staff by 40 percent
University of Otago professor Michael Baker says IMAC's work is vital to increasing immunisation rates, responding to a range of disease threats and rolling-out new vaccines. Photo: University of Otago Wellington / Luke Pilkinton-Ching A public health specialist has warned against cuts to the organisation that provides education, support and clinical advice to the country's immunisation workforce. A leaked internal document from the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) described staff numbers being slashed by almost 40 percent and significant reductions to some services after Health New Zealand more than halved its funding. Neither Health NZ nor UniServices - the University of Auckland company IMAC fell under - would confirm the scale of the cuts or the impact on the centre's workforce. University of Otago professor Michael Baker said IMAC's work was vital in increasing immunisation rates, responding to a range of disease threats and rolling-out new vaccines, especially as the country grappled with low vaccination rates, a whooping cough epidemic and the threat of a measles outbreak . "It's really important work and it's not getting any easier," he said. New Zealand was facing historically low vaccination rates, with childhood immunisation coverage dropping back to levels not seen in about 15 years and overall coverage of 80 percent or less, which was a disaster for controlling infectious diseases, Baker said. He questioned the potential savings from IMAC cuts. "When economists look at vaccinations, it's about the most cost-effective thing you can do for any country. If you vaccinate enough people you actually stop the infection altogether - that's the idea of herd immunity, that's why New Zealand was so lucky to achieve measles elimination a few years ago," he said. Dr Baker says the measles vaccine helped New Zealand to eliminate the disease for a while. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Health NZ insisted it had increased IMAC funding, while UniServices acknowledged the loss of "some funding" had meant a reduction in services. A current staff member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the more sweeping cuts outlined in the restructure document. Both organisations refused to comment further when asked to explain the discrepancy. National Public Health Service director Dr Nick Chamberlain said Health NZ had provided a "significant increase in total baseline funding for IMAC this year". The increase excluded Covid-19 specific contracts, Chamberlain said. UniServices chief executive Greg Murison said IMAC had cut some services, including reduced hours for its clinical communications centre, moved most courses to online only and reduced staff capacity. Since its creation almost 30 years ago, IMAC had held the National Immunisation Education and Co-ordination contract, securing an additional contract in 2020 to provide Covid-19 education and clinical support, he said. Both contracts were rolled into one integrated contract for January 2023 to December 2024, along with some separate Covid-19 funding. IMAC was advised in the middle of last year that Covid-19 funding would likely end from January this year, Murison said. However a "change process confirmation" document obtained by RNZ detailed deep cuts. "Heath NZ have offered less than half of the funding we have previously enjoyed for the next IMAC integrated contract," the document said. "In real terms, the level of funding we have been offered is lower than the funding IMAC had prior to Covid-19." The new contract meant "a significant reduction in education and clinical support services for the immunisation sector", it said. Changes included reduced 0800 IMMUNE service hours (an 0800 number that provided support to vaccinators), a reduction in the number of advisors on each shift, reduced medical advisory availability, a freeze on new courses and post-course support, and a reduction in the number of antigen reviews and updates to the immunisation handbook. The final decision was delayed due to the volume of submissions from staff, who raised concerns about the proposal's risk to clinical safety, saying it "jeopardized the safety and well-being of individuals as well as eroding the public's confidence in the immunisation programme" and hampered the organisation's ability to respond quickly and effectively in a health emergency. The document confirmed just over 16 roles would go, leaving a new structure of 28.9 full time equivalent positions. A "change process confirmation" document obtained by RNZ detailed deep cuts. Photo: RNZ Staff urged UniServices to consider a reduced working week or reduced hours for some jobs to retain more roles. Some staff whose role had been cut complained of finding out in group meetings or via PowerPoint presentations. "This is impersonal, callous, distressing. Left me feeling unsupported and undervalued," one said. The review panel agreed with many of the concerns staff raised and said it had warned Health NZ of clinical safety risks, while risks for the university and its staff had been "communicated at the highest level in the university". The proposed restructure "was not taken lightly and was made on the need to fit resource within the funding envelope". Staff warned job cuts would place additional strain on those left behind, heightening the risk of burn-out and resulting in course cancellations. They described feeling blindsided by the process immediately before Christmas. The panel said the reduced funding was only confirmed in December, despite the contract coming into force on 1 January, which lead to timing it described as "not ideal". A current staff member, who RNZ agreed not to name, said the cuts were anything but minor and disputed Health NZ's claim of boosted funding. "I can definitely confirm funding has been significantly cut and it meant we lost nearly half of our staff at the beginning of the year," she said. "It's significantly impacted our ability to support the sector and it's put our staff under a lot of pressure." She said the restructure was taking a toll on staff. "We're starting to see internally the pressure is building for people who are left, and it means the job is very unenjoyable, which then means senior and experienced staff want to leave," she said. "When we get that sort of exodus of experience, you lose the crux of our organisation essentially, because it is such a complicated environment you can't just backfill those positions with anybody." IMAC had pulled back on working with the university's nursing students and community work with Plunket , which were not considered a priority, while cuts to the 0800 IMMUNE line had the potential for serious flow-on effects, she said. "We service about 150 calls a day and on busy days - flu season and that sort of stuff - it goes up to over 200 calls a day," she said. "A lot of people will turn patients away because they don't feel comfortable vaccinating, or they'll make errors because they couldn't get the information they needed." The Ministry of Health would not comment on whether a separate contract providing vaccine training, information and communications support in the Pacific Islands had also been reduced, citing commercial sensitivity. A polio epidemic was confirmed in Papua New Guinea last month. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Perth mother urges parents to vaccinate their babies as WA government renews free RSV jabs for second year
When Conor Gibbons was just nine months old, he developed a cold that quickly turned into a four-day hospital stay. He was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which then led to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. His mother Delaney Gibbons watched as the virus wore down her son's body to the point where he needed a feeding tube to eat. "That was absolutely awful to watch," Ms Gibbons said. "He had to have IV [intravenous therapy] and antibiotics, he was so weak and tired." Ms Gibbons said she hoped her family's traumatic experience could push other parents to get their children immunised against RSV. In a bid to reduce hospitalisations for RSV, the WA government has committed $7.6 million to rolling out free jabs for infants and children under the age of two across the state. RSV is the number one condition children are admitted to hospital for in their first year of life, according to the state government. The program will run alongside the Commonwealth government's newly funded RSV vaccine rollout for pregnant women. The vaccine will be available at a range of healthcare facilities, including community health clinics, GP clinics, Aboriginal medical services, antenatal clinics and maternity hospitals. Preventative Health Minister Sabine Winton said nearly 22,000 babies were immunised through the program last year, resulting in a 57 per cent reduction in babies being hospitalised. Ms Winton said she was concerned about declining immunisation rates in the community and hoped making vaccines more accessible would help change that. "It is a priority for me to do everything I can to increase the vaccination rates," she said. "Not only for this important announcement to protect our young kids, but around the flu and COVID."
RNZ News
5 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Public Health leaders' appointment in Australia a surprise to staff
Dr Caroline McElnay was Director of Public Health for New Zealand during the Covid-19 pandemic, and during it gave regular public health briefings (like this one from 2022), alongside politicians or other health figures. Photo: Pool / NZME The announcement top public health official Dr Caroline McElnay has been poached by Australia has taken colleagues by surprise at the National Public Health Service. The Victorian State Government has appointed her its new Chief Health Officer. McElnay was one of the prominent public faces frequently seen in updates given through the Covid-19 pandemic. The former Director of Public Health for New Zealand, Dr McElnay had started a new role, as Clinical Lead Immunisation at the NPHS in December, on 2 December 2024. Immunisation staff told RNZ they first learned of her impending departure though a public statement by the Victorian State Government. National Public Health Service (NPHS) Director of Prevention Alana Ewe-Snow said the management team was aware of her resignation prior to the announcement in Australia. "Caroline has made an outstanding impact in her time with NPHS," Ewe-Snow said. "We wish her all the very best in her new role, starting in August 2025, as Victoria's Chief Health Officer" Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Medscape
26-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Nirsevimab Cuts RSV Hospitalizations in Spanish Study
The introduction of universal passive immunisation with nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, led to significant reductions in hospitalizations and paediatric intensive care admissions for respiratory syncytial virus–associated lower respiratory tract infections (RSV-LRTIs), particularly benefiting infants younger than 6 months. METHODOLOGY: Researchers carried out a prospective observational study at a tertiary hospital in Spain to examine if universally administering nirsevimab could reduce hospitalizations and paediatric intensive care admissions due to RSV-LRTIs in children younger than 5 years. They analysed 311 patients (median age, 4.9 months; 57.5% boys), comparing hospitalization rates during the October 2023-March 2024 RSV season — when nirsevimab was administered — with those during two pre-pandemic seasons (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) and one post-pandemic season (2022-2023). Nirsevimab immunoprophylaxis was given to all newborns with a gestational age of at least 35 weeks, to infants younger than 6 months, and to high-risk children younger than 2 years. TAKEAWAY: RSV-LRTI hospitalizations in infants younger than 6 months declined by 83.3% (95% CI, 70.9-95.8) during the period when nirsevimab was administered compared with those in the pre-pandemic periods and declined by 90.8% (95% CI, 83.6-98.0) compared with those in the post-pandemic period. Additionally, paediatric intensive care admissions declined by 73.3% during the period when nirsevimab was administered compared with those in the pre-pandemic periods and by 87.9% compared with those in the post-pandemic period. The median age of hospitalized patients significantly increased during the nirsevimab period, rising to 15.6 months, whereas it was 4 months and 3.4 months in the pre- and post-pandemic periods, respectively ( P < .001). < .001). Additionally, hospital stays were shorter during the nirsevimab period, with a median of 4 days, whereas they lasted a median of 6 days and 5 days in the pre- and post-pandemic periods, respectively ( P = .003). IN PRACTICE: "These findings are encouraging, and it is anticipated that in the coming years, nirsevimab prophylaxis will mitigate the significant burden on healthcare services during the winter season," the authors wrote. SOURCE: The study was led by Lorena Bermúdez-Barrezueta, Faculty of Medicine, Valladolid University, Valladolid, Spain. It was published online on May 16, 2025, in the European Journal of Pediatrics . LIMITATIONS: This was a single-centre study with a limited sample size. DISCLOSURES: The study was supported by FEDER European Funds and the Junta de Castilla y León under the Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization and partially funded by the Ernesto Sanchez Villares Foundation.
