Northland DHBThursday 13 September 2012, 4:30PM
Media release from Northland DHB
The Meningococcal C vaccine is still available through most General
Practitioners FREE, for all aged children and youth aged 12 months
up to under 20 years in Northland. There will also be a "drop-in"
clinic open in Whangarei during the October school holidays.
Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis (inflammation of the
membranes around the brain) and blood poisoning (septicaemia), and
can be quickly fatal.
"Since our emergency vaccination programme last year in 2011, we
have had only had one case in Northland - in an unvaccinated
infant" says Dr Mills. "However, meningococcal C is still present
in New Zealand, as recent cases in Auckland and the Wellington
region show. Infants and teenagers are at high risk from this
disease."
"If you/your child missed out getting the free vaccine in 2011,
please get it now", says Dr Mills.
"The vaccine is highly effective, safe and it is only one dose. It
is especially recommended by the Ministry of Health for students
living in hostels and boarding schools, so if you are likely to be
studying out of Northland in 2013 and staying in a hostel, act now-
while it is free."