Immunisation leader comes to Taranaki

Dr Nikki Turner, Director of The Immunisation Advisory Centre, ,University of Auckland will be in Taranaki on Thursday, 18 April to talk with local health professionals on the importance of immunisation.

As a lead in to Immunisation Week which runs from 22-28 April, Dr Turner will be speaking at the Taranaki DHB Doctor’s Grand Round, and then with local midwives, lead maternity carers, well child and postnatal nurses in an afternoon session at Base Hospital. She will also be presenting at a Midland Health Network forum for GPs and Practice Nurses in the evening.

Dr Turner said her discussion will focus on immunisation coverage, the reasons for the excellent progress in New Zealand, the importance of the immunisation schedule and possible future directions, challenges in disease control, immunisation for pertussis (whooping cough), pregnancy vaccination, and common myths.

“New Zealand has been effective at improving immunisation coverage,” said Dr Turner. “There have been many gains for vaccinating in pregnancy against influenza and pertussis.”

About Dr Nikki Turner
Nikki is an academic general practitioner based at the University of Auckland. She has run the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) since 1998 which developed out of a a communication strategy to improve immunisation coverage in New Zealand.  
She established the Wellington IMAC office in February 2012, situated in the Department of Primary Care and GP in the Wellington School of Medicine in Newtown. She is a NZ trained GP, and continues to work in her general practice, the Pacific Health Centre in Strathmore.   She is involved in a range of other child issues including currently being a Director for NZ UNICEF, health spokesperson for the Child Poverty Action Group and active in a range of child health advocacy issues. 

About IMAC
The Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) is a nationwide organisation based at the School of Population Health at The University of Auckland.
They provide New Zealanders with a local source of independent, factual information based on international and New Zealand scientific research regarding vaccine-preventable diseases and the benefits and risks of immunisation, information and training for health professionals, national immunisation coordination and policy advice and research into many aspects of vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases. For questions relating to immunisation and vaccine-preventable diseases you can call IMAC free on: 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466863)

For more information please call
Sue Carrington
Media Adviser
Ph 021 367 789

Last updated: Thursday, April 18, 2013