Meningococcal epidemic spreads despite vaccinations

Two people in Waikato who had received their first injection of the New Zealand meningococcal B vaccine caught the disease anyway and had to be treated in hospital.

They are among nine Waikato people to be hospitalised this year with the epidemic B strain, along with four more treated in hospital for other strains, prompting a warning from health authorities.

The national campaign to vaccinate under-20s with a vaccine targeting the strain began last July; it reached Waikato in January.

The Waikato District Health Board says some of the infected were so ill they were put in intensive care and one had limbs amputated.

Waikato public health physician Dr Anita Bell said she was highlighting the region's meningococcal disease epidemic figures because "it's not going away", despite a drop in numbers last year.

People with symptoms of the disease, which can include high temperature, headache, vomiting, rash, drowsiness and a stiff neck, should seek immediate medical help. Those under 20 should be vaccinated, she said.

The Health Ministry acknowledges that not everyone who is fully vaccinated will be protected. It states that three doses are needed about six weeks apart and that it can take up to 28 days after the last for full immunity to develop, which should happen in nine out of 10 people.

The ministry knows of only one case of a fully-vaccinated person subsequently catching the epidemic strain of meningococcal disease.