Anti-immunisation message 'dangerous'

A medial expert says those opposed to Meningococcal immunisation are spreading dangerously incorrect information to the public. Photo / Thinkstock

A medical expert has spoken out against those opposed to meningococcal immunisation, saying they are spreading dangerously incorrect information to the public.

Since January, New Zealand has had 104 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease and 99 of those were hospitalised.

Three people have died from sometimes "rapidly life-threatening'' Meningococcal group C since the Northland outbreak started in mid-July, said Northland DHB's medical officer of health Dr Clair Mills.

The vaccine offered in Northland was effective and safe and the best protection against the disease, said Dr Mills.

Contrary to "spurious'' claims made by an anti-immunisation lobbyist, there was also no evidence that illness or disease were caused by the vaccine, she said.

"There is no preservative in the Meningitec vaccine. It is made of a sugar (polysaccharide) from the meningococcal C bacteria, linked to a protein. It is not a live vaccine, and cannot cause the disease,'' she said.

The number and types of serious adverse events reported after getting the vaccine were similar in frequency and type of those who had not been vaccinated, said Dr Mills.

"This is because in careful monitoring of post-vaccination events, illnesses and diseases that would have happened regardless of vaccination are also reported.''

Young children and teenagers are most at risk of contracting the disease.

Symptoms can include a high fever, headache, vomiting, or in infants refusal of feeds, sleepiness, a stiff neck and dislike of or sensitivity to bright lights, joint and muscle pains and a rash.

The vaccine has been used widely since 1999 in the UK, Europe, Canada and Australia.

In the countries where the vaccine was used, rates of meningococcal C disease have reduced dramatically, including a 95 per cent reduction in England in cases in under 20-year-olds by 2003.

There was no good evidence that additional vitamins or iron would protect you from meningococcal disease, said Dr Mills.

Active antibodies specific to Group C were needed to protect you from meningococcal C disease and "given the seriousness of the disease, vaccination is the safest and most effective way to do this''.

"We are purely interested in protecting our young children and youth from a disease that is very serious, and a tragedy for whanau affected by it.''