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Nicola Mary Turner

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki

This article is about the New Zealand medical practitioner. For the American author, see Nikki Turner. For the New Zealand cricketer, see Nicki Turner.

Nicola Mary Turner
File:Nikki2019.jpg Nikki2019.jpg
BornNew Zealand
Other namesNikki Turner
🏫 Education
  • 1985 MBChB: Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (University of Auckland).
  • 1987 Dip Obs: Diploma of Obsterics Gynaecology and Family Planning (University of Auckland).
  • 1990 DHC Diploma of Paediatrics (Royal College of Physicians, UK).
  • 1999 FRNZCGP: Fellowship in General Practice (RNZCGP, New Zealand).
  • 2006 MPH Hons:Masters of Public Health (University of Auckland).
  • 2014 MD: Doctorate of Medicine (University of Auckland).[1]
💼 Occupation
Known for
  • Promoting equitable vaccination programmes.
  • Building awareness of the effects of poverty on children's health.

Nicola Mary Turner is a New Zealand public health advocate who is Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre, University of Auckland the organisation that advises the New Zealand Medical profession and the New Zealand government. She has contributed to advisory committees for the New Zealand Ministry of Health and is a spokesperson for the NZ Child Poverty Action Group. Much of her research and outreach has focused on improving immunisation coverage and closing equity gaps for the national schedule vaccine delivery in New Zealand. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Auckland and an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Otago, Wellington,[2] and since 2011 she has been part of the General Practice team at Newtown Union Health Services (NUHS), Broadway, Wellington.[3]

Education[edit]

Turner holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB), a Diploma of Obstetrics Gynaecology and Family Planning (Dip Obs) and a Masters of Public Health (MPH Hons) from the University of Auckland. She was awarded a Diploma of Paediatrics (DHC) by the UK Royal College of Physicians. In 2014 the University of Auckland awarded Turner a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) for a thesis titled Factors associated with immunisation coverage for the childhood immunisation programme in New Zealand: 1999–2012.[1]

Immunisation Advisory Centre[edit]

Since 1996, Turner has been Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) at the University of Auckland. IMAC is a national communication centre that provides independent and factual research-based scientific information regarding vaccine-preventable diseases and the benefits and risks of immunisation.[4][2]

In 2011, Turner co-authored an Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) study that assessed the effectiveness of the cold chain management for delivery of childhood vaccines from national stores to delivery sites in New Zealand.[5]

In 2018, IMAC collated a synopsis of strategies used since the 1918 influenza pandemic to deal with unanswered questions about how to manage future pandemics.[6] The data indicated that the burden of the disease in 1918 in New Zealand had been inequitably carried by vulnerable populations such as the Maori, Pacific Island and Asian communities.[6] In a related research project, Turner and epidemiologists Nick Wilson and Michael Baker presented data that showed the birth rate for Maori dropped disproportionately after the 2018 pandemic and confirmed the importance of pregnant women being vaccinated against seasonal influenza to reduce the rate of stillbirths.[7] In a later discussion about this research, Turner reiterated the importance of protecting pregnant women from any infection, and if vaccines were in short supply, prioritising them for "access to antivirals and ventilators in hospital intensive care units if they get sick."[8]

In May 2020 Turner, speaking as director for the Immunisation Advisory Centre, supported the use of a vaccine in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand and highlighted that it was important to avoid issues of equity of access across the world by privileging the wealthier nations.[9] She concurred with other experts that the vaccine was a key component in responding to the virus and cautioned against unrealistic hopes that it would happen quickly in New Zealand because of supply issues and prioritisation of the administration to the most vulnerable, and those at "heightened risk of infections like border workers and health staff."[10]

When New Zealand confirmed the purchase of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Turner said that while the country had access to both clinical and "real world" data, and was well situated to approve it,[11][12] there was no need to rush the process.[13][14] She noted that because there was little "severe illness and death from this disease" in New Zealand, the country was in the privileged position of being able to "scrutinise the science, watch how the vaccine rollout goes for other countries."[15] To Turner, the rollout of a vaccine in New Zealand would be planned and sequential, aiming ultimately for widespread community vaccination.[16]

Child Poverty Action Group[edit]

In her role as spokesperson for Child Poverty Action Group, Turner has commented in the media on the relationship between low income and poor child health,[17] and in 2008 co-authored a research report which stated that poverty was causing "devastation" in the health sector, with data showing New Zealand children had "higher rates of preventable illness and deaths from injuries than children in almost any other OECD country."[18] The report drew attention to the fact that Maori and Pasifika children were disproportionately affected by this.[18]

In 2012, Turner, as a member of the New Zealand Children's Commissioner's Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty, contributed to a major report that explored how child poverty in New Zealand could be reduced.[19] Turner later said she was disappointed at the response by the New Zealand government and that they had only focussed on a few areas instead of taking a fully systemic approach to reducing child poverty.[20] This report supported the findings in a previous paper endorsed by the New Zealand Medical Association and co-authored by Turner, which contended that overcrowding, poor nutrition, exposure to tobacco and stress contribute to creating a social environment in which the population is vulnerable and likely to have less access to health care services.[21]

Commenting on a report released by The Asthma Foundation[22], Turner said it confirmed concerns that poverty and deprivation impacted greatly on respiratory disease in New Zealand children, and the underlying causes need to be addressed to ensure that children and families had adequate income, good housing and easy access to health care.[23] In 2015 after the Children's Commissioner released data showing that at the time, there were 305,000 children living in poverty in New Zealand – an increase of 45,000 from the previous year – Turner said that child poverty was now a national issue, not just for individual parents, and there appeared to be an unwillingness to resource a solution to the problem.[24]

Equity of access to vaccination[edit]

Turner co-authored a paper in 2019 that summarised the findings of a retrospective cohort study of New Zealand children (born 2006–2015), which identified that hospitalisation rates for infectious diseases since 1989 had increased disproportionately for Maori and Pacific children and those who were socioeconomically most deprived, but that those children who received the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PVC) between 2008 and 2014, were less likely to be hospitalized. The paper concluded that the use of PVC was associated with "reductions in ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in hospitalization." [25]

Another report on a research study co-authored by Turner showed that foreign-born migrant children living in New Zealand had an overall lower vaccination rate than NZ-born migrant and non-migrant children. It was acknowledged that there needed to be an improvement in the way such data were gathered, highlighting the importance of having "better national surveillance and migrant-specific data related to vaccination coverage to help uncover health inequities among children living in NZ and inform immunisation policy and practice."[26] A follow-up paper on this research highlighted that to get a better understanding of migrant health, data must be disaggregated to locate hidden trends, provide information about subsets and make vulnerable groups more visible.[27]

Much of Turner's research and writing has been on the importance of people getting accurate information about immunisation, particularly to reassure parents that vaccines were safe.[28][29] Turner has been actively involved in media discussions of vaccine safety including the Meningococcal vaccine in 2004[30] and the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil in 2009.[31][32]

Turner has highlighted the importance of building trust between the public and those delivering health programs, either government-funded,[33][34] or at the level of general practice.[28] She has noted that the decision-making process for consent can be influenced by anti-vaccination views,[35] but while making vaccinations mandatory might be helpful, it could result in some families being less inclined to discuss their concerns openly and develop a strong sense of engagement with, and trust in healthcare professionals.[36]

National advisory roles (New Zealand)[edit]

  • 2020–present Member, COVID Vaccine Immunisation Implementation Advisory Group to the Ministry of Health[37]
  • 2020–present Member, COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy Taskforce (Science and Technical Advisory Group -STAG)[38]
  • 2020 Member, The Immunisation Handbook Advisory Group[39]
  • 2015–present Chair, National Verification Committee for measles/rubella[40]
  • 2013–present Member, Well Child / Tamariki Ora Expert Advisory Group[40][41]
  • 2013 Member, Vaccine Safety Expert Advisory Group[42]
  • 2012–2018 Member, New Zealand Children's Commissioner's Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty[19]
  • 2011–present Member, PHARMAC advisory subcommittee for Immunisation[43][44]

Awards[edit]

In 2020, Turner was a finalist for the Green Cross Health award for outstanding contribution to health at the inaugural New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards.[45]

Turner was in the research team for The Southern Hemisphere Influenza and Vaccine Effectiveness Research and Surveillance (SHIVERS) project (2012–2016) designed to measure the effectiveness of vaccination for influenza and other respiratory infectious diseases.[46] In 2019, in recognition of their major contribution to influenza research, the SHIVERS team, including Turner, received The New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS) Shortland Medal. [47]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Turner, Nikki Mary (Nicola) (2014). "Factors associated with immunisation coverage for the childhood immunisation programme in New Zealand : 1999–2012 : Thesis MD University of Auckland". www.library.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 2021-02-04. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "About Associate Professor Nikki Turner – The University of Auckland". unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 2021-02-04. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  3. ↑ Newtown Union Health Service (30 June 2019). Annual Report 2018 – 2019 (PDF). Retrieved 17 December 2020. Search this book on
  4. ↑ "About The Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)". The Immunisation Advisory Centre. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  5. ↑ Turner, Nikki; Laws, Athene; Roberts, Loretta (December 2011). "Assessing the effectiveness of cold chain management for childhood vaccines". Journal of Primary Health Care. 3 (4): 278–282. doi:10.1071/HC11278. PMID 22132380. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Turner, Nikki M.; Charania, Nadia G. (31 August 2018). "100 years since the 1918 influenza pandemic progress made, yet questions remain. A synopsis of the 4th New Zealand Influenza Symposium, February 2018". The New Zealand Medical Journal. 131 (1481): 50–55. PMID 30161112. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  7. ↑ Wilson, Nick; Turner, Nikki; Baker, Michael G. (13 December 2019). "One hundred years ago in 1919: New Zealand's birth reduction shock associated with an influenza pandemic". New Zealand Medical Journal. 132 (1507). Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  8. ↑ "Sharp drop in birth rate as a result of miscarriages in 1918 flu pandemic, study finds". University of Otago Wellington Te Whare Wananga o Otago ki Poneke. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  9. ↑ Martin, Hannah (6 May 2020). "Coronavirus: Covid-19 vaccine our 'only clear exit strategy', so where is it?". Stuff. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  10. ↑ Ray, Willian (1 October 2020). "NZ and the Covid-19 vaccine". RNZ. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  11. ↑ Quinn, Rowan (27 January 2021). "Uncertainty over Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine's arrival, as health staff learn to administer jab". RNZ. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  12. ↑ Keogh, Brittany (5 January 2021). "Covid-19: How NZ is preparing for the biggest vaccine roll-out in history". Stuff. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  13. ↑ "How quickly should NZ rollout the Covid-19 vaccine?". Newstalk ZB. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  14. ↑ Durant, Isabella; Quinlivan, Mark (19 January 2021). "COVID-19: Other countries need coronavirus vaccine more urgently than New Zealand – expert". Newshub. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  15. ↑ The Science Media Guest writer (17 December 2020). "'There are still many unknowns': experts on the big NZ vaccine plan". The Spinoff. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  16. ↑ Daalder, Marc (13 January 2021). "Vaccine rollout will be 'mammoth undertaking'". Newsroom. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  17. ↑ "PRESS RELEASE: Gap between poorest children and the rest continues to widen" (PDF). Child Poverty Action Group. 11 July 2006.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Media Release (28 April 2008). "Major report urges government to prioritise ending child ending child poverty in New Zealand" (PDF). Child Poverty Action Group. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty (December 2012). Solutions to Child Poverty in New Zealand evidencefor action (PDF). ISBN 978-0-909039-38-7. Retrieved 17 December 2020. Search this book on
  20. ↑ News (31 May 2013). "Recommendations largely been ignored by Government". Child Poverty Action Group. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  21. ↑ D'Souza, Amanda J.D.; Turner, Nikki; Simmers, Don; Craig, Elizabeth; Dowell, Tony (30 March 2012). "Every child to thrive, belong and achieve? Time to reflect and act in New Zealand" (PDF). The New Zealand Medical Journal. 125 (1352). Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  22. ↑ Telfar-Barnard, Lucy; Baker, Michael; Pierse, Nevil; Zhang, Jane (April 2015). The impact of respiratory disease in New Zealand: 2014 update (PDF). The Asthma Foundation. ISBN 978-0-473-32235-9. Retrieved 31 December 2020. Search this book on
  23. ↑ News Release (6 May 2015). "New Zealand must address major underlying causes of respiratory disease – poverty and poor housing". Child Poverty Action Group. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  24. ↑ Ashton, Alex (15 December 2015). "A third of NZ children live in poverty". RNZ. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  25. ↑ Petousis-Harris, Helen; Howe, Anna S.; Paynter, Janine; Turner, Nikki; Griffin Jennifer (February 2019). "Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines Turning the Tide on Inequity: A Retrospective Cohort Study of New Zealand Children Born 2006–2015". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 15 (68(5)): 818–826 Cited in Conclusions. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy570. PMID 30032236.
  26. ↑ Charania, Nadia A.; Paynter, Janine; Lee, Arier C.; Watson, Donna G.; Turner, Nikki M. (17 August 2018). "Exploring immunisation inequities among migrant and refugee children in New Zealand". Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 14 (12): 3026–3033 Cited in Conclusion. doi:10.1080/21645515.2018.1496769. PMC 6343632. PMID 30024825.
  27. ↑ Charania, Nadia A.; Paynter, Janine; Lee, Arier C.; Watson, Donna G.; Turner, Nikki M. (April 2020). "Vaccine-Preventable Disease-Associated Hospitalisations Among Migrant and Non-migrant Children in New Zealand". Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 22 (2): 223–231. doi:10.1007/s10903-019-00888-4. PMID 30945094. Unknown parameter |s2cid= ignored (help)
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Petousis-Harris, Helen; Grant, Cameron C.; Goodyear-Smith, Felicity; Turner, Nikki; York, Deon; Jones, Rhys; Stewart, Joanna (March 2012). "What contributes to delays? The primary care determinants of immunisation timeliness in New Zealand". Journal of Primary Health Care. 4 (1): 12–20. doi:10.1071/HC12012. PMID 22377545. Retrieved 29 December 2020.,
  29. ↑ Goodyear-smith, Felicity; Turner, Nikki; Petousis-harris, Helen; Godinet, Sue (2002). "Barriers to childhood immunisation among New Zealand mothers". NZPF. 29: 396–401. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  30. ↑ Turner, Nikki (11 November 2004). "Enough of this 'debate' on vaccine". NZ Herald. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  31. ↑ Van der Stoep, Leigh (25 April 2009). "Fear and fallacies behind smear campaign – doctor". Stuff. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  32. ↑ Breakfast (10 May 2018). "HPV vaccine could potentially eradicate cervical cancer, expert urges anti-vaxxers to 'look at the science'". 1 News. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  33. ↑ Turner, Nikki (4 October 2018). "Anti-vaccine billboard highlights lack of trust in authorities". Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  34. ↑ 1 News (3 September 2019). "'Fears and concerns' – why some Kiwis won't get vaccinated explained by immunisation expert". TVNZ. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  35. ↑ Nowlan, Mary; Willing, Esther; Turner, Nikki (30 August 2019). "Influences and policies that affect immunisation coverage—a summary review of literature". New Zealand Medical Journal. 132 (1501). Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  36. ↑ Martin, Hannah (30 August 2019). "Mandatory vaccinations not the best way to encourage participation, study finds". Stuff. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  37. ↑ COVID-19: Who we’re working with. "COVID-19 Immunisation Implementation Advisory Group (IIAG)". Ministry of Health. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  38. ↑ "COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy". Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  39. ↑ "The Immunisation Handbook Advisory Group". Ministry of Health Manatu Hauora. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Associate Professor Nikki Mary Turner". The University of Auckland Te Whare Wananga o Tamaki Makaurau. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  41. ↑ Well Child / Tamariki Ora Programme Practitioner Handbook (PDF). Ministry of Health. October 2013. ISBN 978-0-478-42800-1. Retrieved 21 January 2021. Search this book on
  42. ↑ "Vaccine Safety Expert Advisory Group". The Immunisation Advisory Centre. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  43. ↑ "PTAC subcommittees". PHARMAC Te Pataka Whaioranga. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  44. ↑ "Record of the Immunisation Subcommittee of PTAC Meeting held via videoconference on 02 September 2020" (PDF). 2 September 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  45. ↑ "2020 WINNERS". NZPH Awards. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  46. ↑ Huang, Qui Sue; Turner, Nikki; Baker, Michael G.; Williamson, Deborah A.; Wong, Conroy; Webby, Richard; Widdowson, Marc-Alain (March 2015). "Southern Hemisphere Influenza and Vaccine Effectiveness Research and Surveillance". Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses. 9 (4): 179–190. doi:10.1111/irv.12315. PMC 4474494. PMID 25912617.
  47. ↑ "Shorland Medal 2019- SHIVERS team award". Science for Communities. Retrieved 29 January 2021.

External links[edit]


This article "Nikki Turner (academic general practitioner)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Nikki Turner (academic general practitioner). Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.


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