In a lead up to World Rabies Day, the Bali government has just signed an agreement authorising a mass vaccination campaign to inoculate nearly 400,000 dogs as an essential first step towards eradicating rabies from the island by 2012.

Two Waikato primary health organisations worked tirelessly to immunise eligible two-year-olds and their 100 per cent strike rate helped the Waikato District Health Board achieve its immunisation health target and get an "outstanding" mark from the Health Ministry.

A Christchurch primary school closed its doors today after a student was diagnosed with swine flu.

Emmanuel Christian School principal Jill Garrett told NZPA one of the girl's parents called yesterday evening with the news -- she had been absent since Friday.

Wellington, Aug 16 NZPA - Six deaths are being linked with swine flu this winter as more people call the influenza hotline and vaccine doses are expected to run out by the end of the month.

Wellington, May 27 NZPA - A Hamilton clinic is paying people to get vaccinations and pap smears, even though it admits it is unsure about the ethics of the process.

Radius Medical Davies Corner is offering patients $10 cash if they get a pap smear or immunisation.

Waikato Hospital's Opportunistic Immunisation Service coordinator Kim Hunter administered the service's 1000th vaccination to six-month-old Bryan Shortland today.

A lack of good quality sleep can make people more prone to colds and flu as well as reduce the effectiveness of vaccinations according to Care Chemist.

Wellington, April 7 NZPA - A scholarship set up in memory of Zachary Gravatt, the Auckland medical student who died last year from meningococcal C complications, has been awarded to its first recipient.

Wellington, March 15 NZPA - League tables showing which primary health organisations (PHOs) are doing best -- and worst -- at meeting community health needs have been released by the Ministry of Health for the first time.

Family First NZ is welcoming a decision by a South Island high school (Westland High School) to refuse to allow the gardasil vaccine to be administered at the school, and is asking for other schools to make a similar stand.