Huntly reluctant to take on new vaccination programme

A town facing mass immunisation of its young people against a rare strain of meningitis snubbed a public meeting yesterday.

Fewer than 20 people turned up at Huntly's Civic Centre to hear plans to vaccinate about 2400 people aged under 20 against Meningococcal C, which has struck down four people in three months.

Medical officer of health Dr Anita Bell agreed the turnout was poor but said all authorities could do was offer information about the programme, which begins on Monday.

The Health Ministry has urged the Waikato District Health Board's public health unit to immunise every Huntly person under 20 against Meningococcal C.

Community health worker Ngawaina McKinnon said it would be tough persuading some parents to get their children immunised against Meningococcal C so soon after the Meningococcal B mass vaccination campaign.

Ms McKinnon, who works at Maori health provider Raukura Hauora o Tainui, said colleagues were struggling to get children back for their second and third shots in the MeNZB programme and it would be no easier getting them for Meningococcal C vaccinations.

"We have a huge pile we have to chase up. They're not taking it too well. That's getting to be a big issue for us as a community, to bring our parents in."

- nzpa