Snedden supports call for discussion on adult vaccination

June 12, 2015

Former Black Cap Martin Snedden supports experts’ call for more discussion on adult vaccination

Leading sports administrator and former New Zealand test cricketer, Martin Snedden, is supporting a leading public health expert’s call for general practitioners (GPs) and their patients to discuss the role adult vaccination has in ‘healthy ageing’.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Raina MacIntyre, Head of the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales, Australia, will address around 180 GPs at the Medicines New Zealand Dinner Symposium at the GPCME Conference in Rotorua this evening (June 12). She will pose the question of whether, given the success of paediatric immunisation campaigns and an ageing population, now is the time to focus on adult immunisation.

“Prevention with vaccination is a better option than treatment after the event, from any perspective: cost-effectiveness, use of healthcare resources, risk to others, and ethics. If we’re serious about healthy ageing, we need to address the pervasive ageism in healthcare and ensure people of all ages have the opportunity to prevent illness through vaccination,” Prof MacIntyre recently told The Washington Post.

Professor MacIntyre will be joined on stage at the Symposium by Martin Snedden who will speak about his career highlights, personal experiences of disease and the importance of healthy ageing.

“I’ve been involved in sport and trying to stay healthy all my life. I want to live life to the full and not be held back by diseases. We know how important it is for children to be immunised but it’s also important for grownups too. I agree we should ask our doctors which vaccinations are right for us at our stage in life.”

Mr Snedden recently had first-hand experience of the suffering vaccine-preventable diseases can inflict when he had a bout of shingles.

The two speakers will address the topic of “Immunisation Equity by 2017: Arrival of a Golden Age or a Golden Duck?”

The Ministry of Health recommends adults be protected against MMR, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, influenza, pneumococcal disease and varicella. However, few of these vaccines are funded for all adults, only for high risk individuals or certain age groups.

Professor MacIntyre is an international leader in emerging infections and vaccinology, and is involved in numerous influenza and respiratory virus research studies that directly inform national and international policy and practice in communicable disease control. She says vaccination is increasingly becoming a whole of life concern and is particularly important for older people.

Former Black Caps pace bowler, Martin Snedden, is CEO of sports promoter Duco Promotions, a director of New Zealand Cricket and the World Masters Games 2017 and former director of the International Cricket Council (ICC). He was also CEO of Rugby New Zealand 2011 and coordinated the Rugby World Cup 2011 event.

“Vaccines are one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions ever introduced. They need to be viewed in the context of healthy ageing and as a valuable to tool alongside good diet and exercise in enabling people to enjoy a healthy life,” says Medicines New Zealand general manager, Dr Graeme Jarvis. “So we are pleased to be able to have an event like this at the GPCME Rotorua conference to raise this issue this year,” he adds.

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