Former deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth has taken a swipe at prominent GP Dr Kerryn Phelps over her call to postpone the start of school until more children are vaccinated.

Dr Coatsworth posted just three words in response to a video uploaded on Twitter by Dr Phelps, arguing for a delay to schools’ return: “Ignore this individual”.

His comment attracted a barrage of criticism, but Dr Phelps refused to be drawn into the war of words.

“I don’t want to dignify it with a response, there’s too much at stake,” Dr Phelps told 6minutes.