Wellington, Nov 18 NZPA - Slowing immunisation rates have prompted the Health Ministry to consider new ways of reaching its target of 95 percent coverage within three years.

District Health Boards (DHBs) have been asked to move to regional immunisation targets overseen by individual DHBs, with help and advice from other regions.

Immunisation coverage reached 80 percent in July, but increased by only three percent in the past year, the ministry said in its Health Targets annual results released today.

"The rate of improvement is slowing and new measures are called for," the report said.

With all DHBs now having immunisation steering groups, there was an opportunity for new initiatives to be developed and shared, it said.

"Innovation and support across regions needs to be fostered," it said.

To formalise that, the ministry wanted all DHBs to develop regional targets for 2010-2011.

Regional targets would still be set in light of the national target -- 90 percent immunisation by 2010-2011.

"This will facilitate discussion across DHBs about how best to improve coverage as a region, and provide some reassurance to DHBs with lower coverage rates that their neighbours are supporting them to achieve their target."

DHBs lagging well behind agreed targets were Northland, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, Tarawhiti, Mid Central and West Coast.

Otago, Canterbury, Capital & Coast and Hawke's Bay were closest to hitting their goals.

In other areas, 16 of the 21 DHBs achieved their elective service patient flow indicators, which measure how well they manage patients referred for elective assessment or treatment.

Only Mid Central was rated "not achieved", while Waitemata, Waikato, Lakes and Nelson-Marlborough "partially achieved".

Rated outstanding were Northland, Auckland, Counties-Manukau, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Whanganui, Capital & Coast, Hutt Valley, West Coast, Canterbury and Otago.