Abstract:
Prevention of disease by immunisation has been recognised
by the World Bank as one of the public health investments
that provides the greatest health gain per dollar spent.1 The
success with which New Zealand achieves control of vaccine
preventable diseases is one of the key indicators of the
performance of our health care system.
Unfortunately, included among the many things with
which New Zealand will greet the new millennium will be
yet another pertussis epidemic. Pertussis cases have been
reported from several regions of New Zealand over the past
twelve months. Based upon experience gained over the past
30 years an increase in cases of pertussis in late winter and
spring heralds the beginning of an epidemic which will affect
the country for the next eighteen to 24 months.
