Pasifika pre-schoolers living in Counties Manukau have been identified as the most vulnerable section of the population in the current measles outbreak in Auckland.
An interim report by the Auckland Regional Public Health Service shows half of South Auckland under fives have needed a hospital bed due to measles, with some of them staying longer to treat complications like pneumonia.
A Samoan Public Health nurse, who has recently been crowned Miss Samoa, is using her platform to share the importance of immunisations to parts of the community that often miss regular public health messaging.
Fonoifafo Nancy Mcfarland-Seumanu, or Fono said part of the work involves following up on children who have missed their vaccine when they were 15-months or four-years old.