Boy, four, fighting for life in Starship

A four-year-old Kerikeri boy with meningococcal disease is fighting for his life in Auckland's Starship Hospital.

The hospital said today the boy was in critical condition after he was flown there in an early-morning emergency dash yesterday.

It is not known what strain of the disease the boy has but it is understood he had not been vaccinated against meningococcal B, the most common strain in Northland.

A public health nurse is working with people in the area where the child lives, giving out information on the symptoms of meningococcal disease.

Northland Health communications manager Alison Lees said the case was a reminder to parents of the suddenness and severity of the disease.

She urged those who had not yet had their children vaccinated to contact their doctor.

A pre-school vaccination campaign for meningococcal B was launched in Northland in November.

"We are achieving good coverage rates in Northland but we are aware that a number of people haven't taken up this opportunity and we strongly urge them to do this," Ms Lees said.

Northland vaccine strategy project manager Jacqui Westren said about 8250, or 75 per cent, of Northland children aged five years and under have had their first vaccination since the programme was launched in November .

The vaccination campaign will move into the schools on the first day of term two on May 3.

Northland is a high-risk area for meningococcal B.

The Northland programme is part of a national $200 million vaccination programme targeting more than a million New Zealanders. The programme is to combat the meningococcal B epidemic which has gripped New Zealand for more than 10 years.

- NZPA