Measles risk for 9,000 infants as ECE immunisation rules face change
NEWS/OPINION – 30 October, 2025
With 13 confirmed measles cases in New Zealand and the country on high alert, experts warn that proposed changes to early childhood education (ECE) rules could leave thousands of very young children more exposed to infectious disease.
Measles is especially dangerous for infants in ECE under 12 months of age because they cannot receive their first MMR vaccine until their first birthday. About 9,000 babies whose families use ECE services are potentially vulnerable because group care increases exposure risk and some adults in those settings may be unvaccinated.
New Zealand should have learned from past outbreaks. During Auckland’s 2019 measles outbreak, a mother told media she was shocked to learn there was no legal requirement for ECE centres to check staff vaccination status or to notify families if unvaccinated staff would be caring for their children. Her concern for her three‑month‑old’s risk of exposure remains relevant today.
Current rules and proposed change
Under the Health (Immunisations) Regulations 1995, ECE services must keep a child immunisation register. A Ministry for Regulation recommendation accepted by Cabinet would remove that requirement. Associate Education Minister David Seymour says the change is meant to reduce costs and administrative burden for services, calling the register “putting a cost on centres with no benefit.”
However, keeping a child immunisation register on site is a simple, practical and low‑cost way for providers to meet their legal duty to limit the likelihood of children being exposed to infectious diseases.
- It informs parents. Viewing a child’s immunisation record before they start group care gives parents the chance to confirm their child’s status and understand why vaccination matters.
- It speeds response. If measles is suspected, staff can immediately and confidentially identify unprotected children and contact their parents so they can take prompt precautions, such as keeping the child at home.
- It avoids dangerous delays. Without on‑site records, centres must wait for public‑health teams to review national registers or decide on closures, which can leave vulnerable infants exposed.
- It fills gaps in national data. Children and staff who recently arrived from overseas may not have records on the Aotearoa Immunisation Register, so local records provide crucial, up‑to‑date information.
The benefits of keeping child immunisation records far outweigh the small administrative cost, especially because rapid action can protect infants too young for MMR and children or staff who are unvaccinated or immunocompromised.
The gap in staff vaccination oversight
Current regulations do not require a staff immunisation register, creating a policy gap. A paper by Namrata Prasad, Dr Nikki Turner and Dr Sarah Alexander in the New Zealand Medical Journal found that, among about 4,000 surveyed ECE workers, only 85% reported being immunised against measles and 48% against whooping cough. Because working in ECE carries a high risk of acquiring and transmitting vaccine‑preventable diseases, the absence of active encouragement of staff to consider their vaccination status through their service maintaining a register weakens services’ ability to manage that risk.
Practical measures recommended
The Office of Early Childhood Education (OECE) has responded by producing a free staff immunisation record form and guidance for providers. The OECE urges centres to:
- Keep and use the staff immunisation forms and develop clear Immunisation and Infectious Diseases policies and procedures.
- Support all adults who work with children to check and update vaccinations, including allowing time off to see a doctor.
- Communicate policies and practices clearly to parents and caregivers.
Calls for caution
The OECE says the sector should not rely solely on voluntary measures. It argues against the government’s intention to remove the requirement for ECE services to keep a child immunisation register, and that both child and staff immunisation records provide a practical, swift way to manage risk and protect vulnerable children and staff (including those recently arrived from overseas whose vaccinations may not yet be on the national Aotearoa Immunisation Register).
As New Zealand responds to current measles cases, ECE services are being urged to review their policies and ensure clear communication about immunisation status and infection control. The ECE teachers and workers immunisation form and guidance are available free for services to download and use.
