Radius Medical Davies Corner, a Hamilton clinic is paying people $10 cash to get vaccinations and pap smears. The Waikato District Health Board is supporting the approach, which has boosted injections rate in the country where immunization rates are quite low as compared to other countries, according to the clinic's General Manager, Navin Rajan.

He said, "Ethically speaking it is a very grey area. We are not trying to buy patients, this is not bribery, this is getting children vaccinated, examined and women through the door for smear tests that could potentially save their lives".

The clinic has managed to attract 28,000 takers, which will cost about $35,000. The board will hit a target of having 85 per cent of two-year-olds fully immunized by July 2010. It will aim to immunize 90% by July 2011 and 95% by July 2012. The board is also providing mobile immunization service which takes vaccines for children into homes, halls, marae and churches.

This move in one of Hamilton's less affluent suburbs is innovative and should be applauded, irrespective of any ethical issues. Last year New Zealand had a poor ratio of vaccinated youngsters compared to other developed countries, according to UNICEF's State of the World's Children report.