Clinic resumes its vaccinations

By REBECCA WALSH

A Mangere GP clinic has resumed vaccinating children against meningococcal disease after an administrative problem led to children being turned away.

The Mangere Health Centre was unable to vaccinate about 20 children on Monday after running out of the forms doctors must fill out for each child.

The clinic, which vaccinated 400 children against meningococcal B disease last week, requested more forms last week but had not received them by Monday.

Yesterday practice manager Linda Whickman said the clinic had received forms from the Ministry of Health.

Ministry spokesman Angus Barclay said he did not know of any other clinics facing a similar situation.

Most clinics filled the information out electronically and used paper forms as a back-up. The Mangere clinic's computer system had not been approved to link to the national immunisation register.

The $200 million campaign to vaccinate all New Zealanders under 20 started last week.