Meningococcal bug hits four vaccinated children

Four children fully vaccinated against meningococcal B have contracted the disease since the roll-out of the nationwide vaccination programme mid-way through last year.

The children, who were all from the Auckland region, were hospitalised but are not believed to have suffered any ongoing disability.

Ministry of Health programme director Dr Jane O'Hallahan said the number of "vaccine breakthroughs" was not significant, given that nearly 270,000 third doses had been administered, but she said they highlighted the need for people to remain alert to the disease.

Before the $200 million nationwide vaccination programme began in July last year health officials said it was expected to offer protection to about 75 per cent of those vaccinated.

Dr O'Hallahan said the fact only four children had contracted the disease after three doses of the vaccine was "very promising" for the vaccine's efficacy - figures extrapolated from Norway (where the parent version of the vaccine was made) indicated New Zealand could expect a vaccine breakthrough once a month.

The number of vaccine breakthroughs was expected to increase as the number of people fully vaccinated grew - as at July 17 a total of 1,652,663 doses, including 263,592 third doses, had been given. Dr O'Hallahan said the ministry was confident the four cases were not due to problems with the cold chain or the vaccine itself.

Latest ministry figures show that 143 cases of meningococcal disease have been notified this year with 8 deaths.

About 75 per cent of cases were the epidemic strain.

Figures for the Counties Manukau and Eastern Corridor area, where the programme began, showed the rate of meningococcal B had dropped from 61 cases per 100,000 in 2003-2004 to 32 per 100,000 in 2004-2005.