Meningococcal reaction rate better than expected, ministry says

The number of children who have suffered adverse reactions to the meningococcal vaccine is lower than expected, the Health Ministry's vaccination programme director says.

Jane O'Hallahan said there had been a very low level of reaction in relation to a huge vaccination programme.

Her comments follow National MP Tony Ryall's statement in Parliament yesterday that the Accident Compensation Corporation had accepted 33 claims for adverse reactions.

Dr O'Hallahan said most of the claims were a result of the injections, rather than the vaccine itself.

"That means trauma associated with the act of injecting. Given that over three million doses have gone into kids' arms, it's still very rare to have any trauma ... or an infection at the injection site, but very occasionally these things happen."

Dr O'Hallahan said the fact that 10 of the claims were directly related to the meningococcal vaccine indicated a "very low" level of reaction, and was better than the ministry had expected.

"Vaccines cause reactions as do many other things in life."

Those reactions included one for a serious blood disorder developed by an eight-year-old.

The child was identified as Chelsea Ferris, diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenia.

Her mother, Louise Blair-Ferris, said Chelsea's reaction to the second vaccination had been "devastating" and her immune system had been damaged.

ACC Minister Ruth Dyson has called Mr Ryall's comments about the claims "irresponsible and dangerous".

"In my view he portrayed a situation where parents up and down the country will be concerned about the meningococcal B vaccination programme," Ms Dyson said yesterday.

Ms Dyson has released details of the 33 ACC claims.

Seven were for allergic reaction, six for bruising at the vaccination site, three for rotator cuff impingement and two each for anaphylactic reaction and contusions at the injection site.

Single cases included a frozen shoulder, fractured upper teeth, infection, nerve damage and skin puncture.

Ms Dyson said the claims went back to the beginning of last year, and the number was within anticipated outcomes.

The average cost of the claims was $79, mainly for doctor visits and some prescriptions.

- NZPA