11. Question No. 11—HealthMATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri) to the Associate Minister of HealthQuestion No. 11—Health 11. MATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri) to the Associate Minister of Health: Does she stand by her statements in relation to the measles outbreak There is no shortage of vaccines" and "there's no issue with supply"?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Associate Minister of Health): Yes in the context they were given.Matt Doocey: When the Minister said there is no shortage of vaccines is she confident the latest order of 52000 measles vaccines will be sufficient to last until the end of January when the next lot of vaccines is due to arrive given that 54000 measles vaccines have been given out so far this month?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: The member may not have seen a Ministry of Health statement that has just been released saying that approximately 100000 additional measles mumps and rubella vaccines have been secured and will be arriving in the coming weeks. So I would also let him know that 175000 vaccines have been delivered this year—that's an 86 percent increase on the same period last year in which 94000 were delivered. We have the additional 52000 which have arrived and are being distributed this week. And just today the ministry has announced 100000 additional vaccines have been secured.Matt Doocey: In light of that answer of the new 100000 vaccines why have 1.3 million New Zealanders aged between 30 and 50 no longer been prioritised to receive the measles vaccine?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: The member will be aware that children under the age of two are the most likely to be hospitalised when they get measles. During a significant outbreak children must be the priority for vaccines for this reason.Matt Doocey: In light of the answer of the new 100000 vaccines why are there over 1 million New Zealanders aged between 15 and 29 who are no longer being prioritised to receive the measles vaccine as of Monday?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: As I said to that member children under the age of two are the most likely to be hospitalised. Children must be the priority for vaccines. The guidelines issued by the ministry were subject to additional supply being available. So once the 100000 are in the country there will be changes to the prioritisation.SPEAKER: Can I just ask for a little bit more good taste to be applied by way of interjection during this question. This is a matter that a lot of parents take very seriously.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The first objection that I have is that I don't believe there are a million New Zealanders between the ages of 15 and 25 which is what the member asserted in this House.SPEAKER: Well I apologise for not being quick enough to pick the member up. I should have ruled the question out if that's—Matt Doocey: Responding to that point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: No no. It's well gone. Sit!Matt Doocey: It was the Parliamentary Library that gave us that. Could the Minister tell the House today that now with the 100000 extra vaccines that will appear there will no longer be the reprioritisation of the age groups mentioned in previous supplementary questions?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I will do no such thing. We are going to follow expert advice on how we're going to protect the most vulnerable New Zealanders during a measles outbreak. I don't think this is a time to be creating a panic for the purpose of politics. New Zealanders have to have confidence in our public health system. I have confidence in the clinicians who are carrying out tens of thousands of vaccinations and I thank them for their work protecting the most vulnerable New Zealanders.Melissa Lee: If there are no supply issues with the measles vaccine and if children are in fact the priority what does the Minister say to the parents of Malaysian Chinese children who were turned away from their GP yesterday because they were not Māori or Pasifika?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: The ministry and DHBs are actively managing the distribution throughout the country to ensure it is going to where it is needed most—that's all children. Primary care has been issued with advice to contact a nominated DHB stock manager about vaccine distribution. Fifty-two-thousand additional vaccines have arrived in the country and have yet to be distributed. There will be another additional 100000. But we need to focus on the most vulnerable and at-risk people if we are to respond to this outbreak responsibly. I would ask the Opposition to be a little more responsible."