King defends meningococcal vaccine

Health Minister Annette King yesterday defended provisional approval of the meningococcal B vaccine granted by the Medicines Assessment Advisory Committee (MAAC).

Green Party health spokeswoman Sue Kedgley said approval was given at a MAAC teleconference convened so hastily that four out of the 11 expert members could not attend.

Ms King said MAAC was not the only body to approve the vaccine. It was passed by the vaccine subcommittee, which evaluated data independently from the Health Ministry drug safety arm Medsafe, and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Britain's equivalent of Medsafe.