Government eyes new jab for strain of meningitis

The Ministry of Health is considering introducing a new vaccine for a strain of meningitis which leaves a quarter of its victims with serious disability including cerebral palsy, epilepsy and deafness.

The Prevenar vaccine is currently funded only for babies considered at risk of the life-threatening pneumococcal disease.

But more than three-quarters of the cases occur in children with no known risk factors, according to the Meningitis Trust.

Dr Alison Roberts, senior adviser on public health medicine at the ministry, said the vaccine could be introduced by 2008.

Its use would be reviewed by the Immunisation Technical Working Group in August. It was considered in 2003 and was "next on the priority list" but it would be considered again against other vaccines on the market.

"It will depend on epidemiology, benefits to children and whether there is money to finance the vaccine," Dr Roberts said.

The Meningitis Trust manager, Fiona Colbert, said the "deadly and devastating" pneumococcal disease was common in New Zealand and parents had a right to expect their children to have the same access to protection as infants overseas.

But it was funded only for babies considered at risk, or available for those who could afford a private prescription, which ignored the "alarming statistic" that 81 per cent of cases occurred in children with no known risk.

"In addition to meningitis, it can lead to other serious infections such as bacteria, pneumonia and sinusitis," Mrs Colbert said.

Vaccination with Prevenar, which means four injections, costs more than $100.

It would take to 16 the number of vaccine jabs given to babies in the first two years of their lives.

Rosemary Minto, chairwoman of the College of Practice Nurses, said the large number of inoculations might put some parents off.

But Immunisation Advisory Centre director Dr Nikki Turner said some vaccines could be combined into single jabs. Children's immune systems fought off dozens of pathogens every day and were well able to withstand several vaccinations at the same time, she said.

The Meningitis Trust's call for the vaccine was backed by Diana Lennon, professor of child and youth health at the University of Auckland.

A United States study involving 37,000 children showed the vaccine was more than 97 per cent effective.

Studies had also shown it was less likely to spread among families of vaccinated children.

"This type of 'herd protection' may result in direct medical savings in terms of reduced hospital stays and treatment costs," said Professor Lennon.

A Health Ministry study of invasive pneumococcal disease found an average annual incidence of 110 per 100,000 in children under two years. The rates were higher in Maori and Pacific children.

In 2004, the Government ploughed $200 million into a vaccine programme to fight meningococcal B.


Push for jab

* The Meningitis Trust, which is co-ordinating an awareness week for the disease this week, wants Prevenar made available to all children "as a matter of urgency".

* It is available in government-funded programmes in other countries including Australia, Canada, Britain and the US.

- Additional reporting NZPA