New research claims a delay in creating and using a meningococcal B vaccine has caused unnecessary deaths.
Auckland University's School of Medicine says cases of the disease and deaths from it might have been prevented, if there'd been action earlier in the epidemic cycle.
It says the weight of this failure to act fell on disadvantaged members of the population.
The Government's 200 million dollar immunisation programme was rolled out from 2004 to 2008.
Up to 13 people have fallen sick in the Northland region since July with meningococcal C meningitis, a different strain of the disease but with the same symptoms.
