OBLIGE Study
If you need to have your labour induced you may be eligible to take part in an exciting research trial called OBLIGE. Hutt Maternity is one of 11 hospitals in NZ who are trying to find out if there is a more family and whanau friendly approach to induction of labour.
Have a look at the video on https://oblige.auckland.ac.nz/ or talk to your doctor or midwife
WellKiwis influenza study
Did you know you and your baby can help develop better vaccines to prevent flu in the future?
What is the WellKiwis influenza study?
WellKiwis needs mums and dads in the Wellington region who will join us in monitoring their babies and young children for any exposure to the flu virus or flu vaccine throughout their first seven years. Influenza (flu), unlike a common cold, is a serious illness that affects hundreds and thousands of people globally. In New Zealand, young children and the elderly
are particularly vulnerable to its infection. WellKiwis is a study which will follow newborn babies from birth to age seven. The aim is to see how a child’s first exposure to the flu virus – or flu vaccine – influences their on-going immune responses to subsequent exposures to flu over time as a child grows. The purpose of the WellKiwis study is to provide information which will enable scientists and researchers to make more effective and longer lasting flu vaccines for our future populations.
WHO - Women who are expecting to give birth between 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2022. WellKiwis would like to recruit 600 Wellington mother-infant pairs (200 pairs a year for three years) and follow these children up to 7 years until 2026.
WHAT - WellKiwis is a study about influenza (flu) immunity in children. The study is to follow newborns over 7 years to see how a child’s first encounter to the flu virus or vaccine influences their immune responses to subsequent exposures to flu as the child grows.
WHY - The purpose of the WellKiwis study is to provide information to help to make more effective and longer lasting flu vaccines for New Zealand and the world in the future.
HOW - WellKiwis study staff will monitor your child’s flu-like illness for seven years through regular surveys. A cord
blood is needed from you and one annual blood from your child each year. Additional samples (blood or
swab) are needed only if your child has flu virus infection or flu vaccine.
BENEFITS - Include finding out if your child is sick with the flu virus or another respiratory virus. You will receive gift cards to recognise your time and effort. No medications will be given.
WHERE - This study is being conducted at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) in collaboration with the Hutt valley & Wellington communities, HVDHB and CCDHB clinicians including Regional public health nurses, physicians, midwives, obstetricians, paediatricians, microbiologists and the HVDHB theatre team.
For more information: Visit Wellkiwis.co.nz and Wellkiwis facebook page or call Dr. Sue Huang (lead researcher) or other study staff at 0800 493555 (0800 4Wellkiwi) or you can email at Wellkiwis@esr.cri.nz if you are interested in enrolling in WellKiwis.
