There's been a strong and repeated call for higher levels of vaccination in the Bay of Plenty after confirmed cases of measles around the country.

'The vaccine is very effective,” says Toi Te Ora medical officer of health Dr Phil Shoemack.

'Most children are vaccinated. But it would be possible to completely eliminate measles if we could achieve even higher levels of vaccination.”

There have been confirmed cases of measles in both Auckland and Wellington.

And in Christchurch people have been urged to ensure their vaccinations are up to date after a local man contracted the highly contagious disease while holidaying in Bali.

That's prompted Phil to warn Bay of Plenty people to watch out for symptoms of measles.

The illness usually starts with general fatigue, a cough, sore eyes and a fever followed a few days later by a rash covering much of the body.

'Measles can be a very serious illness, often requiring hospitalisation,” says Phil. 'For those not needing to go to hospital it means at least a week in bed keeping away from anyone else who has not been vaccinated.”

Most outbreaks of measles in New Zealand occur when someone contracts it overseas and then spreads it to unvaccinated friends or family once back home.

'Anyone who's not vaccinated according to the NZ schedule of vaccines is at risk.”

The first dose of vaccination is due at 15 months and the second when the child is four years old.

He strongly suggests making sure all children are vaccinated against a preventable disease.