Public Health Nurse Update

Rheumatic Fever - There have been 8 cases of Rheumatic fever in the Waikato this year.

Rheumatic fever is a serious but preventable illness. Rheumatic fever can start with a sore throat caused by a ‘strep throat’ - a bacterial infection called Group A Streptococcus (GAS). A free throat swab detects strep throats and a free ten day course of antibiotics (tablets or syrup) kills the strep bacteria and prevents rheumatic fever.

The recommendation is if you have any students with a sore throat please encourage them to get a throat swab.

Places to get a throat swab are:

• Drop in services are provided by general practices, pathlabs, after-hours clinics some pharmacies, some secondary school nurses and community providers in the Waikato.
• This service is available and free to all 4-19 year old Māori and Pacific children across the Waikato District presenting with a sore throat.
• This service is available and free to all 4-19 year olds living in high deprivation (quintile 5) areas presenting with a sore throat.

Measles - We are continuing to prepare for an outbreak in the Waikato.

In May, Albany High school was closed because of cases at the school.

We are encouraging schools to update their vaccination records with copies of vaccine certificates to prevent this happening to their schools. We are also encouraging staff who work at the school to be aware of their vaccination status and to get the MMR vaccination if required.

We are continuing to strongly encourage everyone who is eligible for two doses of the MMR vaccine to get themselves and any eligible children immunised.

The MMR vaccine is offered to tamariki on the schedule at 12 months and 15 months.

For those who missed out on their MMR immunisations, it’s free for everyone under 18 years old – it does not matter what your visa or citizenship status is. This includes visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand.

For people over 18 years old, the MMR vaccine is free if you’re a resident, or eligible for free healthcare in New Zealand

Adults born before 1969 are not able to have an MMR vaccine.

Meningitis - We have had a few schools ask us about the Meningitis vaccination for school boarders and for their older students thinking about University next year.

From 1 March 2023, rangatahi (young people) aged 13 to 25 years old living in close-living situations are now eligible for FREE meningococcal B vaccines.

Close-living situations include boarding schools, hostels, and halls of residence.

If you have students leaving to go boarding schools or halls of residence please consider informing them of this free vaccination.