Put simply, meningococcal disease is an infection caused by bacteria. People who survive meningococcal disease often have serious long-term effects, including amputation of limbs, hearing loss, seizures, brain injury, and permanent skin scarring. File photoHe wants universal access to the vaccine before students leave school, saying the current system is "not good enough". The outbreak has reinforced fears about how quickly meningococcal disease can spread in close-living environments such as university halls. His only daughter, Courtenay, a "normal, healthy 16-year-old", had received a standard meningitis vaccine as a youngster, but her family later learned she wasn't fully protected against "all of the different strains".

Source: Otago Daily Times March 25, 2026 03:40 UTC