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Measles outbreak

Confirmed cases of measles are on the rise in Aotearoa. The College has prepared some guidance and resources for you and your practices to ensure you are prepared should cases rise (or arrive) in your region.

Latest updates

  • Health New Zealand holiday season measles update, 19 Dec 2025

    Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora shared a measles response update ahead of the holiday season. The update includes information about:

    • MMR dose one
    • MMR eligibility
    • Vaccine Helpline (consumer facing) holiday hours
    • Vaccine Helpline support service holiday hours

  • Communicable Disease Control Manual Measles chapter update, 11 Dec 2025

    The following changes have been made to the measles chapter in the Communicable Disease Control Manual.

    Case definition (case classification)

    • Removal of the term high index of suspicion from the probable case definition.

    Notification and reporting (notification procedure subsection)

    • Addition of the high index of suspicion definition regarding when to escalate nationally.
    • This change addresses variability across regions and resolves confusion caused by the previous layout, which suggested that only high index of suspicion cases required NDMS entry.
    • Jump links have been added throughout the chapter to help users navigate to the definition quickly.

    Outbreak guidance (outbreak control subsection)

    • New national guidance on outbreak naming, investigation and use of genotyping.

  • MMR vaccine eligibility, 11 Nov 2025

    Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora have shared an MMR vaccine eligibility update. The update includes when people not eligible for funded healthcare in NZ can receive funded MMR vaccination (including Registered Seasonal Employee), ordering storing and using the private market MMR vaccine, prioritising MMR vaccination and adults requiring catch-up MMR vaccination. View the update.

  • GPNZ Primary Care Clinical Leaders' meeting, 7 Nov 2025

    On 7 November 2025 an outbreak and response update was provided as part of the GPNZ Primary Care Clinical Leaders' meeting.

College resources

The College has developed the below resources to help members and practices through the Measles outbreak. Preparing now will help protect your staff, your patients, and the continuity of your service.

Dr Ros Wall on computer at practice

Communications

Communication templates including phone scripts and signage.

View communication templates
iStock-1459262795

Practice checklist

Easy to use checklist to help your practice prepare.

View practice checklist

MMR vaccine funding information

  • MMR is free for anyone who is eligible for funded healthcare in New Zealand. There is no upper age limit.
  • People born before 1969 are not required to self-fund a vaccine. However, vaccination is not recommended for those over 70 as they are not expected to be at risk.
  • The only people who would need to self-fund are non New Zealand residents over 18.
  • Practices can order MMR self-funded vaccines through HCL (Health Care Logistics) using normal channels for ordering non-funded vaccines.

Useful resources

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora


Immunisation Advisory Centre