A few weeks ago, I put on my Whangārei GP hat and covered a lunchtime session at the Whangārei Girls' High School meningitis vaccination centre vaccinating Whangārei children.
This was a very well-run centre with eight vaccinators including myself. I have backed our Northland District Health Board in its efforts to vaccinate Northland children against meningitis including vaccinating myself and lobbying the Ministry of Health for more funds for the campaign.
Going forward the DHB has my support, but looking backward I am increasingly concerned with the actions of the Ministry, Pharmac and the Minister around the delay in launching the campaign.
Did the Government "penny pinch" the Northland campaign and has Northland had the best chance for the best outcome? Answering this question has been like peeling back an onion - every layer reveals another issue.