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Meningococcal B Vaccination Campaign

The campaign to vaccinate all children and youth under 20 years will commence in mid-May in Wellington, Porirua and Kapiti. Children under 5 or youth who have left school will be vaccinated by the family doctor or other vaccination provider. Children at primary and secondary school will be vaccinated by public health nurses. This vaccination is free.
Each child will need three vaccinations spaced six weeks apart to ensure the best protection against this deadly disease.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Meningococcal B disease.

For more information about the vaccination programme, visit www.immunise.moh.govt.nz or phone 0800 20 30 90.

Also visit the National Immunisation Register - www.moh.govt.nz/nir

What is meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal disease is a serious infection caused by bacteria. It can cause septicaemia (a severe infection of the bloodstream) or meningitis (infection of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord).

Meningitis is often the name people call meningococcal disease. However this can be confusing as other germs can cause meningitis. For example amoebic meningitis is the meningitis our mothers used to warn us about when swimming in hot pools.

The symptoms of meningococcal disease can develop very quickly and can lead to death within 24 hours. Permanent disability such as deafness, epilepsy or disfigurement can be an outcome for those who survive. The ability to cause life-threatening illness in a healthy person in a short period of time is very unusual for an infectious disease.

What are the symptoms of meningococcal disease?

It can be hard at first to tell meningococcal disease from illnesses such as influenza. Many of the symptoms, such as headache and achy limbs, are similar. But meningococcal disease can get worse very quickly.

A baby or child may have a fever, cry a lot, be unsettled, refuse food or drink, vomit, appear sleepy, floppy or harder to wake, have a rash or spots and dislike bright lights.

An adult may have a fever and headache, vomit, have a stiff neck and dislike bright lights, experience joint pain and aching muscles, be sleepy, confused, delirious or unconscious, have a rash or spots.

Seek medical help immediately for anyone with these symptoms and keep a close eye on their condition. For example, if they are sleeping, wake them frequently to check on them. Early treatment saves lives.

How is meningococcal disease spread?

People can carry the meningococcal bacteria harmlessly in the back of their throat and nose without getting sick (it is estimated that one in five people carry the germ at some stage).

The meningococcal germs are spread in droplet form and people usually catch the disease when there is close prolonged contact with other people. The biggest risk factor is living in a house with lots of other people. Living in the same house as a smoker is another important risk factor.

Who gets sick with meningococcal disease?

80% of meningococcal disease affects people under 20 years of age. Children under 5 are most at risk. Between 2000 and 2004 109 people in the C&C DHB district ( Wellington , Porirua and Kapiti) contracted the disease. Maori and Pacific groups have the highest rates of disease.

How many people are affected by meningococcal disease in New Zealand?

Since 1991 when the epidemic began, more than 5400 people have become sick with the disease and 220 people have died (an average of about 400 cases and 16 deaths a year.)

For every 100 people who get the disease, four will die and a further 20 will be left with some degree of serious disability such as brain damage, hearing loss, loss of limbs or damaged skin. Some will have learning or behavioural difficulties.

Why do we need a vaccine for meningococcal B disease?

Meningococcal disease causes more hospital admissions and deaths than any other notifiable disease in New Zealand. Since the group B epidemic began in 1991 it is estimated to have cost the country more than $935 million in health costs and lost work time.

In New Zealand, 80 out of 100 cases of meningococcal disease are the group B strain of the disease. It is estimated that if we did nothing, the epidemic would last another 10 years.

What is happening in Wellington, Porirua and Kapiti?

The campaign to vaccinate all children and youth under 20 years commenced in May 2005 in our district. Vaccination is free. The vaccine will continue to be available after this time for children under 5 years, but children and youth aged 5-19 years will no longer be eligible after December 2006.

School vaccinations by public health nurses finished at the end 2005. Current vaccination options include general practice/the family doctor, or another alternative provider. In our district, all Maori and Pacific health providers offer drop-in vaccination clinics.

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