Northland has a regional communications campaign via newspaper and radio media, social media and information has been sent out to schools and workplaces to ensure that those who are eligible for vaccination, and their caregivers, are aware of the programme, and where they can get vaccinated.

There is a community outbreak of meningococcal W disease in Northland.  We need to vaccinate people who are most likely to carry the disease and infect others, which will help to prevent the spread and manage this outbreak.

We will vaccinate children aged from 9 months to under 5 years and those aged 13 to under 20 years who are Northland residents.

We are targeting children under 5 because this is the population that is generally most affected by meningococcal disease.  As a result, vaccinating this age group will protect them from getting meningococcal disease. The vaccine cannot be given to babies under 9 months.

We’re targeting 13 to under 20-year-olds because this is the age group that generally carries the bacterium that causes the disease.  Even if they have no symptoms, carriers can infect those around them.  Vaccinating this age group will lower the number of carriers in Northland and stop the spread of meningococcal disease across the entire community.  In other words, vaccinating this age group will help protect all the people in Northland.

Vaccine stock is in short supply globally. New Zealand has purchased the 25,000 doses that are available immediately.

Vaccine stocks are limited, both nationally and internationally. Therefore we are vaccinating those most at risk from the disease and also those most likely to carry the disease and infect others.

There is currently a community outbreak in Northland with a higher number of cases for the population than elsewhere in the country.  It is important that we act quickly in this region to limit the spread of disease within this community.

Although there have been meningococcal W disease cases in other parts of the country, at this stage we do not have other community outbreaks.  The Ministry is monitoring the situation closely and will work with other district health boards if there are increases in cases in their regions.

The Ministry is monitoring the situation closely and will work with other district health boards if there are increases in cases in their regions.

The vaccine programme started on 5 December and will run until 21 December. Details about clinics times and locations can be found here https://www.northlanddhb.org.nz/.

The focus of the campaign is to stop the spread throughout the Northland region and is timely in this regard.

The Ministry and the Northland DHB have been working closely together once the community outbreak was identified in mid-November to determine the best response. Action has been taken immediately once a decision to undertake an outbreak vaccination response was made.  

Before now, cases have been sporadic and have been dealt with on an individual case-by-case basis with antibiotics to the affected individual and their close contacts.

No, as soon as a decision to vaccinate was made, PHARMAC contacted vaccine manufacturers to source the vaccine. Some of the vaccine is coming from Australia, which is why it will only take a week to reach New Zealand, but other stock is coming from further afield and will take several weeks to reach here.

The timing this close to Christmas and school holidays makes the logistics challenging but the Ministry and Northland DHB did not want to wait until the New Year to commence the vaccination campaign.

The logistics of the campaign have yet to be finalised by Northland DHB, but it is likely to include community outreach. Northland District Health Board plans to start a three-week community vaccination programme on 5 December in selected high schools across Northland.

Meningococcal disease bacteria can be spread from person-to-person through secretions and respiratory droplets. Therefore, we recommend covering your nose or mouth when you sneeze or cough, and wash and dry your hands afterwards. Also, avoid sharing eating or drinking utensils, toothbrushes and pacifiers.

People need to be aware of the symptoms of meningococcal disease.  The vaccine that will be given in Northland provides protection against four strains of meningococcal disease (A, C, W and Y) but not for the B strain, which is also common in New Zealand.  Anyone who has the symptoms of meningococcal disease should talk to their doctor or call Healthline as soon as possible irrespective of whether they have been vaccinated or not.

People can also pay privately for the vaccination.

We have advised the organisers of the Jamboree that there is a community outbreak in Northland and advised that extra vigilance is required.  We have also suggested that attendees from overseas should check their vaccination status.

There have been 102 cases of meningococcal disease in New Zealand so far in 2018 – 29 of these cases have been meningococcal W strain, including 7 in Northland. The MenW strain is the cause of 29 per cent of meningococcal cases.

Overall, 10 people have died. Six deaths were due to meningococcal W – three of those people were in Northland.

Last year, there were 12 cases of MenW in New Zealand, including only 1 in Northland, and three deaths. In total, there were 94 cases of meningococcal disease in 2017. MenW accounted for 11 per cent of cases.

On 10 December, 2018

There have been 114 (all groups) cases of meningococcal disease in New Zealand so far in 2018 – 29% of these cases have been meningococcal W strain, including 7 in Northland. The MenW strain is the cause of 25% percent of meningococcal cases.

Overall, 10 people have died. Six deaths were due to meningococcal W – three of those people were in Northland.

Last year, there were 12 cases of meningococcal W in New Zealand, including only 1 in Northland, and three deaths. In total, there were 94 cases of meningococcal disease last year. Meningococcal W accounted for 11 per cent of cases.

This strain of meningococcal disease is increasing around the world. We don’t really know why at this stage.

Meningococcal W is a particularly aggressive strain of the bacteria and can quickly lead to severe illness and, in some cases, death. Also, the symptoms can be similar to those of other common illnesses, such as nausea, headaches and gastroenteritis, which means that an early diagnosis of this disease is difficult. That is why the Ministry issued an advisory to GPs and emergency departments to be vigilant for people presenting with symptoms of meningococcal, and encouraged them to treat people with antibiotics before sending them to hospital because early treatment is vital.

Yes

The symptoms and signs of meningococcal disease include a fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, rash, sleepiness and irritability.  Meningococcal W can also cause gastroenteritis and pneumonia.

Meningococcal disease bacteria can be spread from person-to-person through secretions and respiratory droplets.

Therefore, we recommend covering your nose or mouth when you sneeze or cough, and wash and dry your hands afterwards. Also, avoid sharing eating or drinking utensils, toothbrushes and pacifiers.

Vaccination is the best protection.

If you suspect you have meningococcal disease or have any of the symptoms - a fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, rash, sleepiness, irritability, gastroenteritis or pneumonia - it is important to seek medical help immediately by contacting your GP or Healthline.

Anyone who has the symptoms of meningococcal disease should talk to their doctor, call 0800 600 720 between 8am and 8pm, 7 days a week to speak to a local public health nurse or call Healthline 0800 611 116 as soon as possible irrespective of whether they have been vaccinated or not.

The costs have yet to be calculated.

The campaign costs will be covered by baseline Health funding.

Longer term, PHARMAC and the Ministry are considering the best approach to protect people from meningococcal disease.

Advice has been sent out to GPs and emergency departments about treatment and diagnosis, including asking them to be vigilant in monitoring for potential meningococcal cases.

There is limited supply of the vaccine available privately.

We understand that one of the two New Zealand registered manufacturers of Meningococcal W vaccine is currently able to meet private demand for the vaccine.

It is important to contact your primary care provider if you want to purchase the vaccine privately.  They will be able to advise you if they have the vaccine available.

Meningococcal vaccines can be privately purchased from general practices and (for those aged 16 and over) from vaccinating pharmacies.

Private supplies of Meningococcal ACWY vaccine are separate from the publicly funded vaccines noted above, but suppliers have reported high demand in recent weeks and there have been intermittent local vaccine shortages.

Stocks of the vaccine are likely to be limited for the foreseeable future due to global demand but suppliers are doing what they can to secure more vaccines for New Zealand. The wholesaler (Healthcare Logistics) does not take back orders but will advise via its website when stock is available.

There is currently a community outbreak in Northland with a higher number of cases for the population than elsewhere in the country. It is important that we act quickly in this region to limit the spread of disease within this community.

Although there have been meningococcal W disease cases in other parts of the country, at this stage the rates are small and we do not have other community outbreaks. The Ministry is monitoring the situation closely and will work with other district health boards if there are increases in cases in their regions.

If you have your child’s Plunket book or Well Child book, please bring that along or NHI number. We can access their NHI if you don’t know it. 

Your National Health Index (NHI) number.

The venue in Kawakawa is the Community Health Building at the hospital. It used to be the old maternity unit.

At the community clinic we are only able to vaccinate your child who is either 9mths to under 5 or 13 to under 20. We are vaccinating those most at risk from the disease and also those most likely to carry the disease and infect others. In other words, vaccinating these age groups will help protect all the people in Northland, also known as herd immunity.

Menactra^®, NeisVac-C^®, Nimenrix^®

Common responses

• Mild pain and swelling at injection site (in around half the recipients)
• Mild fever
• Decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoaea
• Headache
• Irritability
• Fatigue, malaise, drowsiness

Rare responses

• Urticaria (allergic skin reaction)

As with any medicine, very rarely, severe allergic reactions occur following immunisation. You can contact IMAC for more information http://www.immune.org.nz/contact-us

Meningococcal disease during pregnancy can be very serious.
In Northland, in view of the current higher rates of meningococcal disease, young pregnant women aged 19 or younger are eligible for the free Men W vaccine and there are no safety concerns around receiving these vaccines at any stage of pregnancy.

Check our website for clinic details https://www.northlanddhb.org.nz/

Yes, they can as long as it’s only one other not belonging to them. It’s because they need to be with them for the 20 minutes after the vaccination. We have staff in the recovery area but need a parent or caregiver with them as well.

This is a community outbreak response. We are aiming to achieve the greatest protection for our community. One vaccination will offer good immediate protection for our 9 months to 2 years.

A second dose is recommended for under 2yrs separated by at least three months. This is currently not being funded or provided by the public programme.

Individuals wanting to consider a second dose next year are advised to discuss this with their primary health provider. We will advise if this information changes.

You will need to sign a consent form for your child which you can download from our website - https://www.northlanddhb.org.nz/. Having their NHI number is ideal (this can be found on appointment letters from the hospital and often on correspondence from your doctor).

Teenagers under the age of 16 must have parent/guardian consent. Therefore, a parent/guardian will need to attend the clinic with them to sign all consent forms. Those over 16 can sign their own consent forms. Please bring along some proof of ID and your NHI number if possible (this number is often included in correspondence from your doctor, or any hospital appointment letters you may have received in the past.

Yes, the Menactra® or Nimenrix® vaccine can be given concurrently with other vaccines in separate syringes and at separate sites.

Please note – as is with all vaccination - a child should not be vaccinated if they have a high fever or are unwell.

For the parents of children aged 5 to under 13 years, we sincerely understand your concerns about them not being able to receive the free meningococcal vaccine at this time.

We want to reassure you that what we are doing with the limited amount of vaccine doses available to us in Northland will help protect your children (aged 5 to13 years).

Vaccine stocks are limited, both nationally and internationally. New Zealand has purchased the 25,000 doses that are available immediately and Northland has been given these doses for the most vulnerable in our community.

Therefore we are vaccinating those most at risk from the disease and also those most likely to carry the disease and infect others.

These two groups are children aged from 9 months to under 5 years and those aged 13 to under 20 years who are Northland residents.

In other words, vaccinating these age groups will help protect all the people in Northland, also known as herd immunity.

We are targeting children under 5 because this is the population that is generally most affected by meningococcal disease. Vaccinating this age group will protect them from getting meningococcal disease. The vaccine cannot be given to babies under 9 months.

We’re targeting 13 to under 20 year olds because this is the age group that generally carries the bacterium that causes the disease. Even if they have no symptoms, carriers can infect those around them.  Vaccinating this age group will lower the number of carriers in Northland and stop the spread of meningococcal disease across the entire community.

If you have any questions, please phone 0800 600 720 – 8am to 8pm –to speak to a local Public Health Nurse.

If you or a child have any of the symptoms of meningococcal disease - a fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, rash, sleepiness, irritability, gastroenteritis or pneumonia - it is important to seek medical help immediately by contacting your local accident and medical or ED department, your GP or Healthline 0800 611 116.

You will need to be registered with a Northland GP.  Your NHI (National Health Index) number is valid nationwide, so when you move it 's moves with you.

Research suggests high vaccine effectiveness early after vaccination, but two to five years after vaccination, vaccine effectiveness wanes to 50-60 percent.

For healthy children aged 9–23 months, two doses are given at least three months apart. For healthy individuals aged 2–55 years, one dose is given.

So, if the parents are concern with children aged 2+ because of one dose, they should not be. One dose is enough.

If the children are between 9 – 23 months, one dose will protect them well over the period of the outbreak (moreover, as the 2nd dose cannot be given before 3 months have passed, which will be beyond the time we stop the campaign) and for some months, and they will receive a booster dose when the vaccine is introduced nationally, hopefully in 2020.

immune.org.nz advise - children aged under 7 get around 3 years protection. In older children, adolescents and adults you can expect protection to last around 5 years. It is not possible to accurately study the degree or duration of immunity from 1 dose in the 9 -23 month olds.

If there were another outbreak declared elsewhere this would be considered separately by PHARMAC and the Ministry of Health, including taking clinical advice on the specific needs of the population in the relevant region.

There is no further stock of Menactra available in the short term. An alternative vaccine could be sourced if required. (It’s all from overseas.)

This is the available stock that can be secured quickly. The manufacturing lead time for further supply of the Menactra vaccine would be approximately 18 months, so further stock would not be available in a suitable timeframe to address the current outbreak.  Available stock is being targeted to the age groups that would have the most impact in preventing the spread of the disease.  

The cost is subject to confidential supply agreements with PHARMAC.

PHARMAC has been working closely with the Ministry of Health on options to protect the Northland community from meningococcal W.

Under five-year-olds are the group most affected once the disease spreads, while 13 to under 20-year-olds are most likely to be carriers of the meningococcal disease (but have no symptoms).
Vaccinating these age groups will reduce or stop transmission of meningococcal W to other unvaccinated people.