Vaccination massively reduces meningococcal risk, says study

Ella Pocock, of Napier had her immunisation last year. File picture / Sarah Bicknell

Children and teenagers immunised against epidemic meningococcal B disease are five times less likely to be infected than those who haven't been vaccinated, an independent study has found.

Health Minister Pete Hodgson said the study put an end to claims that the decline in meningococcal B cases since the programme began had been solely due to the natural progression of the epidemic.

Dr Richard Arnold, head of the Victoria University team which carried out the study for the Ministry of Health, estimated about 75 meningococcal cases had been avoided by the $200 million programme, and between two and three lives saved.

The epidemic has killed 239 people since it began in 1991. It had been entering a natural decline when the immunisation programme was launched in 2004, programme director Dr Jane O'Hallahan said. However, there was no guarantee that trend would have continued on its own.

The effectiveness rate of the vaccine was around 80 per cent, she said. So far this year 11 cases of the disease had occurred in fully vaccinated individuals.

"No vaccine is 100 per cent effective. When you are taking on a disease of this nature, 80 per cent effectiveness is very acceptable."

If the current decline in infections continued the epidemic could end by the close of 2006, Dr O'Hallahan said.

Dr Arnold said the study took into account background factors affecting the disease rate, such as seasonal changes, age, ethnicity and socioeconomic advantage.

Statistics showed the sharpest decline in meningococcal B cases had been in Maori and Pacific Island communities, with drops of 90 per cent and 70 per cent respectively.

Mr Hodgson said the study highlighted the urgency in making sure all young New Zealanders completed their vaccination courses.

Routine vaccination of newborns and under-fives would continue until 2009, while those aged 5-19 had until the end of the year to receive their free immunisation.

"The uptake of the vaccine has been excellent, but the next few months are the 'make it or break it' stage in our work to end the epidemic ," Mr Hodgson said.

- NZPA