New meningococcal vaccine rolls out in Northland

Health officials in Northland are gearing up to vaccinate 20,000 children and teenagers before Christmas. Twenty-nine people nationwide have contracted the MenW strain this year, and six people have died; three of them in Northland. On Monday the government announced that free vaccinations will be offered to teenagers and children from nine months to four years old in the region from next Wednesday. A Northland mother is encouraging with parents to take up the offer. Rowshae Albert lost her seven year old daughter Alexis to the disease in July. She's hoping other families will now be spared her pain.