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People gathered at Pahaturoa Rock in
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Awareness week.
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ara hauora, was the theme of week led by the
Mental Health Foundation and celebrated
throughout New Zealand. Chief Executive
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for people who have not experienced mental
illness – it’s for everyone.
“Mental health is a taonga. It’s something we
all have and something to look after so we can
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1 in 5 Kiwis experience a mental illness each
year. Almost all of these people will recover or
live well with the right support.
“Mental Health Awareness Week is an
important reminder that we all go through ups
and downs in life, and that’s why we need to
explore what can help us when we’re feeling
good and when we’re not.”
In the Eastern Bay several events are planned
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Friday 4 October at 10am. To mark World
Mental Health Day on Thursday 10 October,
a ‘Lime It Up’ day with fun, food, giveaways
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NEED TO
TALK?
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School from 10-2pm. For more information
contact Emma Kutia, Kia Piki Te Ora
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[email protected]
Free call
or
support fr text 1737 any tim
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Lifeline –
sellor
0800 543
35
4 (0800
or free te
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Suicide Cr
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(0508 TAUT – 0508 828 865
OKO)
Youthline
234 or em – 0800 376 633, fr
ee text
ail talk@yo
ut
online ch hline.co.nz or
at
BOPDHB
Mental He
alth Crisis
Tauranga
0800 800
team,
50
0800 774 8, Whakatā ne
545
STOP THE SPREAD OF MEASLES
Controlling the current measles outbreak
continues to be a priority for Bay of Plenty
health authorities. This work includes
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as maintaining the National Immunisation
Schedule for vaccinating children against
measles at 15 months and four years of
age.
Measles is a very infectious viral illness that spreads
easily from person to person. It can be serious, with
over a third of cases in the current outbreak requiring
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preventing measles. The vaccine that protects against
measles is the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)
vaccine. A large number of people have been seeking
vaccination because of the current outbreak and the
Ministry of Health is working with district health
PROTECTED TOGETHER
- IMMUNISATION IS
OUR BEST PROTECTION
• Measles is easily preventable by
immunising. Two doses of the Measles,
Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine
provides the most effective protection
for yourself, your family and the wider
community.
• After one dose of MMR, about 95%
of people are protected from measles.
After two doses, more than 99% of
people are protected.
• Children receive their free routine MMR
immunisations at 15 months and 4 years
of age.
• Measles immunisation is particularly
important if you are planning to travel
anywhere overseas – to protect yourself
and to help prevent outbreaks when
you return to New Zealand.
• If you were born in New Zealand in
1969 or later, you can get the measles
vaccine for free. If you were born
in another country you will need to
find out when measles vaccine was
introduced to that country.
•
Auckland is currently being prioritised
to receive extra supplies of vaccine so
vaccine availability will be limited for a
few weeks in many other parts of the
country.
boards to prioritise vaccine supply and ensure our
most vulnerable groups are protected.
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cases of measles in New Zealand, almost 1200 of
whom have been in the Auckland region, with other
cases spread across the country, including 50 in the
Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts.
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Dr Jim Miller is advising people that the MMR
vaccination is the best protection against measles. “It’s
important that we prioritise our children, ensuring that
they receive their free routine immunisations on time
at 15 months and four years. Any adult under the age
of 50 who has not had a single dose of MMR should
contact their medical practice about being vaccinated.
Due to vaccine supply issues you may not be able to
receive the vaccine straight away” says Dr Miller.
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dose.”
IF YOU THINK YOU
MIGHT HAVE MEASLES
The first early symptoms of measles are
fever, runny nose, sore red eyes and
cough, followed a few days later by a
rash usually starting on the face before
moving down the body.
If you think you or someone in your
family may have measles it is very
important that you stay at home and
phone your doctor to alert them to your
symptoms and allow them to make
arrangements to assess you safely and
without infecting other people. You can
also call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for
advice. Please do not just turn up to your
GP, after hours or emergency department,
without first phoning ahead as you could
potentially infect others.
GET THE LATEST MEASLES
UPDATES FOR THE BAY OF
PLENTY COMMUNITY FROM
TOI TE ORA PUBLIC HEALTH
People born before 1 January 1969 are considered to
be immune because virtually everyone got measles
prior to the measles immunisation being introduced
that year, and so this older age group (50 years and
older) does not need the measles immunisation.
Measles spreads very easily, advises Dr Miller. “If you
suspect you may have measles, it is very important to
call your doctor and advise them of your symptoms
before showing up to be seen at the clinic. If you
do have measles and you attend a clinic or hospital
waiting room, you may risk spreading the infection to
anyone in that space who is not immune.”
WHAT IS MEASLES?
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness
which is spread from person to person
through the air by breathing, sneezing or
coughing. Just being in the same room as
someone with measles can lead to you
getting measles if you are not immune.
If you are not immune the illness typically
starts 7–14 days after you’ve been exposed to
a person with measles.
First symptoms
•
A fever
•
A cough
•
A runny nose
•
Sore and watery ‘pink’ eyes
Day 3–7 of illness
•
A blotchy rash appears. The rash
typically starts on the face and behind the
ears, before spreading over your head and
down your body. The rash lasts for up to a
week.
Measles can be serious, with over a third of
cases in the current outbreak needing hospital
treatment.
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• follow
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