Photo: 123rfSouth Auckland doctors say plans by Pharmac to provide wider access for the meningococcal B vaccine for young people and infants are important to prevent another major outbreak of the potentially deadly disease. Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to fund the meningococcal B vaccine from March 1, 2023, for children up to 12 months of age, and a catch-up programme for children from 13 to 59 months of age until August 31, 2025. He said he did not want to see a repeat of the meningococcal B outbreak from the early 2000s which hit south Auckland's Pasifika and Māori communities hard. "Over the past few years the number of meningococcal B cases being notified has been increasing and we want to acknowledge the concern from the public and advocacy groups including the Meningitis Foundation," he said. According to the Ministry of Health an increasing number of meningococcal B cases were detected in New Zealand in the late 1990s, which led to the development of the MeNZB vaccine.

Source: Stuff November 17, 2022 12:27 UTC