28 Nov 2018

Northland DHB urges parents to vaccinate for meningitis

From Morning Report, 7:40 am on 28 November 2018

The Northland DHB is appealing for any parents who oppose vaccinations to reconsider their views, after three deaths in the region from a new strain of meningococcal disease. The board is rolling out a free targetted emergency vaccination campaign against the disease, starting next week. Its chief executive, Nick Chamberlain, says the new strain is even harder to diagnose than previous ones, and can develop really quickly. Sore joints and upset stomachs are two of the additional symptoms of the new Men-W meningococcal strain, along with better known ones such as a stiff neck, drowsiness and a rash. Dr Nikki Turner is the Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre at the University of Auckland.