Meningococcal W in Northland
The Ministry of Health has announced a free vaccination programme for Meningococcal W in Northland. Northland currently has an outbreak of this strain and while it can affect all ages, it particularly can affect younger children and older teenagers. As a response to this, all children aged from 9 months to under 5 years and teenagers aged 13 to under 20 years who are Northland residents will be eligible for a single free vaccine. Northland will have a regional communications campaign via newspaper and radio media to ensure that those who are eligible for vaccination, and their caregivers, are aware of the programme, and where they can get vaccinated. Vaccine stocks are limited, both nationally and internationally. Therefore those most at risk from the disease and also those most likely to carry the disease and infect others are being vaccinated. Although there have been meningococcal W disease cases in other parts of the country, at this stage the rates are small and we do not have other community outbreaks. The Ministry is monitoring the situation closely and will work with other district health boards if there are increases in cases in their regions. Northland DHB have also provided the following information: •
The free three week Northland community vaccination programme will be starting on Wednesday 5 December until Friday 21 December, 7 days a
week, at selected high schools and community centres across Northland. •
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The location of the clinics will be confirmed as soon as possible. The location information will be posted on our website, social media, in the newspapers and on radio. Northland DHB will vaccinate Northland children aged from 9 months to under 5 years and those aged 13 to under 20 years at the time of presentation. To be eligible the child will need to be a Northland resident. Following advice about the best use of available vaccine, we will target Northland residents who are aged 9 months to under-5, and those aged 13 to under 20 years. Research shows that vaccinating these two age groups is the best way to reduce the spread of meningococcal disease in the entire Northland community. This helps to protect everybody, even if they don’t qualify for the free vaccination.
Check the Northland DHB website for more information