Media Release

August 25 2004

Outstanding response to Meningococcal B Immunisation Programme

The Ministry of Health is delighted with the response to the Meningococcal B Immunisation Programme with more than 50,000 children and young people vaccinated to date.

The immunisation programme aims to stop New Zealand’s devastating epidemic of the fast-moving and potentially deadly meningococcal B disease.

Immunisation started last month in the Counties Manukau region, the area with the greatest risk of the disease. Immunisation is free and available to those aged up to and including 19 years. Three doses of the vaccine are needed each one about six weeks apart.

Meningococcal Vaccine Strategy director Jane O’Hallahan said immunisations were going extremely well in both schools and primary care.

With parental consent, school students are immunised in schools while pre-schoolers and those who have left school receive the vaccine at their doctor's.

“We have had a fantastic response. People recognise the seriousness of meningococcal B and want protection.

“To date in schools consenting is phenomenally high with more than 28,000 students vaccinated with their first dose. In some schools the consenting rate has been more than 95 percent.

“The success in school is the result of an incredible team effort on the part of the Counties Manukau District Health Board, its public health nurses, the principals, teachers, office staff, parents and of course, the students themselves.

“More than 22,000 children and young people have been vaccinated in primary care. Practice nurses and doctors have been actively encouraging their patients to get the vaccine.

“Everyone is making an extraordinary effort,” Dr O’Hallahan said.

“Of course when you are vaccinating such large numbers you expect some children will feel a little unwell for a short time afterwards. In both the schools and primary care anyone vaccinated is asked to stay for 20 minutes to be observed.

“Primary care and the public health nurses in the schools are well organised and equipped to cope with anyone who is unwell.

“To date side effects have been relatively minor. The main issue has been ensuring especially young people have eaten enough prior to being immunised. If they have not had anything to eat or drink for some time they can feel unwanted after effects. We are encouraging them to make sure they eat and drink before lining up for the vaccine.

“At present the vaccine is licensed for use in babies aged from six months but it is expected that an application to reduce the minimum age to six weeks will be made soon,” Dr O’Hallahan said.

“It is of concern that the anti-immunisation lobby is promoting unsubstantiated claims in an attempt to stop people consenting to immunisation.

“The vaccine has been rigorously tested and has met the same standards of safety and quality as any other medicine licensed for use in New Zealand. We have proceeded with caution at every step. That process is now outlined in the latest New Zealand Medical Journal. We have had international scrutiny and expert input at every step of planning and implementation of the programme,” Dr O’Hallahan said.

“The programme is being delivered in a staggered roll out throughout the country, as far as possible according to the risk of meningococcal disease in the district health board. The next areas to receive the vaccine will be the rest of Auckland and Northland. Next year the vaccine will be available in other district health boards from Auckland south to Wellington and then from Southland up to Nelson Marlborough,” Dr O’Hallahan said.

Ends