The Wire with Caeden

New ESR data has shown cases of meningococcal disease in Kiwi teens and young adults has increased by 88% compared to last year.

The data also shows Maori and Pasifika toddlers, as well as Maori youth, make up the majority of the increased numbers.

The Wire producer Sofia spoke to the Head nurse of Havelock North High School Caryn Williams about the growing concerns of meningitis in Aotearoa and the accessibility of vaccines.

The Public Health Communication Centre has published a report discussing the social impacts of youth vaping addictions. 

While discussions around youth vaping typically focus on the health risks, the report looks at the social and psychological issues caused by addiction. 

Castor spoke with Doctor Jude Ball, a public health researcher at the University of Otago in Wellington, about youth vaping addictions and potential solutions.

With recent news that Parliamentary Services is required to make budget cuts, Parliamentary cleaners are worried that their recently won living wage may be stripped away.

Parliament’s cleaners won the living wage under the previous Labour government, which had committed to a wage increase during the 2017 election campaign.

Castor spoke to Rachel Mackintosh, the National Secretary for E tū, the union covering cleaners, about the potential wage cuts and what they may mean for those affected.

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Lecturer in the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Dr Johanna Reidy, about school uniform equity in Aotearoa. 

Producer Olivia spoke to Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Otago, Warren Tate, about the links between ME/CFS and Long COVID.

She also spoke to Postgraduate Fellow in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Otago, Dr Remy Muhsin, about the prevalence of parasites such as toxoplasmosis and cryptosporidium.