KEY POINTS:
The Ministry of Health is satisfied the meningococcal B vaccine given to New Zealand children is safe, after concerns were raised in a Norwegian documentary which claimed the vaccine had negative side-effects.
The documentary, which screened last year, prompted an independent review in Norway into meningococcal B vaccine trials in Norway, which began nearly 20 years ago. Norway's vaccine is the basis of the vaccine used here.
New Zealand's health ministry immunisation spokesman Dr Pat Tuohy today said two reports had recently been released by the ministry's Norwegian counterparts.
He said the review found insufficient information about the vaccine risk was given to Norwegian trial participants, but there was no concern about information made available to children or their parents in New Zealand.
Dr Tuohy reiterated the vaccine used for New Zealand's meningococcal B programme was as safe as any other comparable vaccine and its safety was tightly monitored.
- NZPA
