Vaccination Campaign: Meningococcal Disease
Around 1.15 million young people will be vaccinated against the deadly meningococcal disease in NZ's biggest mass immunisation campaign. The $200 million campaign is to combat the meningococcal epidemic that has claimed 220 lives and affected thousands of others since 1991.
The vaccine is specially developed to combat the NZ strain of the meningococcal B bacterium. The vaccine, which requires three injections four to six weeks apart, will be offered free at schools, workplaces and medical clinics. It will be given first to children in the worst-affected area of South Auckland and then be rolled out progressively to the rest of the country, becoming available in Wellington next year.
The programme aims to immunise 90 percent of those aged between six months and 20 years, with a particular emphasis on pre-schoolers (this is because about half the cases of the disease occur in those under five). Participation in the programme is voluntary.
Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that can cause serious illnesses including meningitis and septicaemia. It is spread in droplet form - through coughing or kissing - and is not highly contagious like whooping cough or chicken pox. But its effects can be devastating. Four out of every 100 people who get the disease die and 20 suffer serious physical disability. The biggest risk factor is living in overcrowded housing.
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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