Bug causes misreporting by vaccination database

A Northland Health database for the region's mass meningococcal B vaccination has been infected by a bug.

The system is failing to recognise vaccinations for Maori children, the target group of the campaign.

After a steep drop-off in meningococcal B immunisation rates over the Christmas period, vaccination numbers for preschoolers are on the increase.

Overall immunisation rates were sitting at between 65 and 70 per cent and Maori immunisation rates were more than 50 per cent, Northland District Health Board chairwoman Lynette Stewart told the DHB.

However, Maori health general manager Kim Tito said the Maori immunisation figures did not accurately reflect immunisation rates because of problems with the board's data recording system.

Unlike other regions, Northland Health had direct access to Northland GP management systems which had indicated that about 1000 extra vaccinations had been administered than were accounted for.

"A significant number of Maori are being entered as 'other' or the programme is automatically switching it to 'other'," he said.

"It's a bug that's infecting the whole programme."

Similar concerns had been expressed in Auckland, where the meningococcal B vaccination was launched.

The Ministry of Health has accepted there were problems with the programme and was working to resolve the problem.

Board member Shane Reti said he was concerned the health board was collecting inaccurate information as it prepared to take the vaccine programme into the schools.

"We have to have it sorted out," Dr Reti said.

- NZPA