Meningococcal disease claims two children

Two children have died from the epidemic strain of meningococcal disease - a revelation that comes just a day after health officials released figures showing the $222 million vaccination programme's success.

The death of a Waikato toddler is the first fatality of someone fully immunised against the epidemic B strain. The other child who died was too young to be fully vaccinated.

Health Ministry officials say the deaths were too recent to figure in data it released on Tuesday showing a zero death rate in the first seven months of the year.

Critics of the programme say the toddler was a victim of vaccine failure, and want a Royal Commission into "how a nation can be so totally swayed by officials and advisers into spending a quarter of a billion dollars for such a gamble that has delivered false hope to trusting New Zealanders".

Vaccine opponents Ron Law and Barbara Sumner Burstyn said in a statement the ministry had used all cases and deaths to justify the "medical experiment".

"Even if the Ministry of Health's claims of [the vaccine's] 80 per cent effectiveness are true - and that is not the case - at best there would be a 34 per cent reduction in all meningococcal disease cases."

However, the Ministry's immunisation programme director Dr Jane O'Hallahan said the effectiveness rate had been independently verified.

A Victoria University study which took into account background factors affecting the disease rate, such as seasonal change, age and ethnicity, found that children who were not immunised were five times more likely to contract the epidemic strain than those vaccinated.

"We've never presented data that has tried to mislead either politicians or parents. We present the information in what is the most scientifically valid way.

"It is true that we do tend to, as well as look at epidemic strain cases, look at all meningococcal disease cases. This is in line with what other countries do, how everybody presents the information.

"Over time our ability to identify the epidemic strain has changed; the test is more precise and we are able to identify more of the epidemic strain. This epidemic's been going for 14 years, so there have been developments ... One of the constants has been that all meningococcal disease cases are notified."

No vaccine was 100 per cent effective, she said.

"Very sadly we've had a death in a fully vaccinated child whose parents clearly had faith in the vaccine.

"It is important that parents understand that what we are seeing is that this vaccine is being effective."

In the five years before the vaccine was introduced, on average there were 213 cases and seven deaths a year in under-20-year-olds from the epidemic strain.

Last year there were 82 epidemic strain cases and one death in this age group. So far this year there have been 28 cases and two deaths.

In Auckland, there have been 13 confirmed epidemic strain cases among under-20-year-olds this year, and one death.

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service said despite fewer cases, people needed to be alert.

Dr Craig Thornley said early symptoms include fever, vomiting, headaches, and a purple or red rash. Other symptoms may include drowsiness, refusing to eat or drink, and in babies, persistent crying.

Immunisation programme

* Vaccination of newborns and under-fives will continue until 2009.

* The five to 20s have until the year's end to complete all three doses.