Some children of anti-vaxers are opting to get their vaccinations as teenagers and young adults, often prompted by the desire to travel.

Immunisation Advisory Centre director Dr Nikki Turner said about 2 per cent of people were actively choosing not to get their children vaccinated, believing the medical system advice to be wrong.

"In a sense what you are saying is you are opposed to the scientific model that your government is recommending."

But it was not uncommon for children of anti-vax parents to make a different choice when they were no longer under the care of a parent, Turner said.

In New Zealand, children under the age of 16 have the right to minor treatment, including immunisations, under the Health and Disability Code of Consumer Rights. 

For Victoria University student Vito Strati, 22, who went to Christchurch's Rudolph Steiner School, discussions with vaccinated friends and a trip to Vietnam in 2016 prompted him to get vaccinated when he was 19.

Strati said he grew up in a tight-knit community of families who distrusted traditional medicine, including vaccinations.

The anti-vax view was based on "anecdotes" about children who had reacted badly to vaccines. 

His mother was flummoxed by his decision to get immunised, saying he was "living proof" the alternative approach to health care worked.

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Getting to know the father of a school friend, who was a GP and believed in vaccination, helped sway Strati's opinion. 

"That showed me that care and compassion was not just something that those who practiced homeopathy and natural medicine had."  

Strati believed a small number of people may react badly to vaccines but the advantages greatly outweighed the disadvantages.

"I had no need to hold on to childhood ideas. When I started to investigate it and talk to others I was very willing to change my view if presented with enough evidence."

Strati did not try to change his mother's view.

"I don't think there's anything little old me could say to change her mind."

Another former Steiner student, Rebecca Thompson-Looij, 17, said she had been brought up to believe not being vaccinated was something to be proud of. 

"Recently I've been like, well, I don't want to be susceptible to these preventable diseases and also I know there are people out there who can't get vaccinated so it's kind of my civic duty to get it done because they can't protect themselves."

Rebecca said she began thinking about vaccinations after an appointment at a specialist travel doctor ahead of a trip to South East Asia. 

The doctor was shocked she had missed almost all of her vaccinations and arranged a catch up schedule.

Her mother was supportive of her daughter's decision as she had changed her view about immunisation in recent years, Rebecca said.

However, her father remained opposed to vaccination. 

A current year 12 Steiner student who Stuff agreed not to name, said she only became aware she was not vaccinated this year. 

She asked her mother if she was vaccinated after another student gave a speech in support of vaccinations after the Canterbury measles outbreak in March.

"...I was quite shocked, I was like 'oh no I need to go and get vaccinated'."

She is now considering getting vaccinated but wanted to better understand her father's objections. 

"I think he believes they don't really do anything and it's kind of just a scam or something." 

Phoenix Arrowfield, 18, said his parents felt immunisations posed unnecessary risks for young children. 

He transferred from Christchurch Rudolph Steiner school to Chisnallwood Intermediate in year 7 and completed high school at Shirley Boys' High.

During high school Arrowfield realised he wasn't vaccinated, began doing his own research and concluded he wanted to be immunised. 

"I found out that there is huge support for [vaccinations], that there's huge scientific consensus that they are good and being someone for whom science is my bible, I decided to follow what the consensus is."

Arrowfield said he wanted to join the Navy, which required applicants to be fully immunised, and this also encouraged him to complete his immunisation schedule this year.