Meningococcal vaccinations a highlight of health spending

2.50pm UPDATE

By far the largest amount in the Budget is Vote Health but almost all the money had already been announced.

However, the Government has announced a figure it is setting aside the new vaccine to fight the meningitis epidemic which has killed 190 people and infected 4200 people since 1990.

It plans to spend $187 million over the next three years for research, testing and then applying the vaccine, which arrived from Norway this week.

The $187 million will peak at $82 million in the 2003/4 financial year.

The Government is aiming to vaccinate at least 90 per cent of all under-20-year-old New Zealanders. Close to $3.2 billion of health funding has already been laid out in the Budget over the next three years.

The Government has already set aside $410 million over three years to improve access to primary healthcare services.

Health Minister Annette King, in a small but surprising, announcement revealed $15 million for a sewage subsidy scheme to help small towns upgrade or build new treatment plants.

It can also be used to add fluoride to water supplies.

Ms King said: "Without the help of a subsidy, a small community with a badly maintained sewage treatment system could expose the community to disease-carrying pathogens or bugs. Stormwater or sewage overflows perhaps caused by heavy rain, increase the risk of water-borne disease travelling through a community."

The scheme, which begins July 1 200, is aimed at communities of up to 10,000 people.

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