Vaccination not linked to child's death, coroner rules

No connection has been found between the death of an 11-year-old Masterton schoolboy in June and his first meningococcal B vaccination (MeNZB) given 18 days before he died.

At an inquest yesterday into the death of Matthew John Campbell, Masterton coroner Jock Kershaw found that Matthew died on June 5 from an "overwhelming bacterial infection (staphylococcus aureus) with an underlying illness of influenza.

Mr Kershaw further found that the staph infection caused a severe pneumonia and severe infection of the large airways, which resulted in his death, and which was not linked to his MeNZB vaccine.

Detective Sergeant Bill van Woerkom, told the court that on Thursday, June 2, Matthew had complained of a headache and sore throat, which despite being treated with Panadol, persisted into the weekend.

Matthew's mother contacted the Masterton Medical Centre on Saturday and talked to a nurse who told her to give Matthew Pamol, four-hourly with plenty of fluids.

Mr Van Woerkom said the nurse also told Mrs Campbell of the 24-hour medical cover available if she was concerned about his condition.

Mrs Campbell put Matthew to bed, and it was about this time he started to wheeze. Members of the family kept checking on him until 1.30am.

The next morning between 7.45am-8am when Mrs Campbell checked on Matthew, she found him not breathing. Paramedics were called, but were unable to revive him.

Margot McLean, a medical officer of health for Regional Public Health was called to give evidence.

Dr McLean said such a death would not normally be reported to the medical officer of health, but their was concern the MeNZB vaccination could be linked in some way to the death.

Dr McLean said at the time Matthew died, there was an influenza epidemic in the North Island and many children were away from school in Wairarapa, Wellington and Hutt Valley.

The main strain of the flu was influenza B/Hong Kong, which had started before the MeNZB vaccination programme.

Dr McLean said the Independent Safety Monitoring Board reviewed the case and concluded there "was no link between the flu deaths and MeNZB vaccination".

She said it was her "firm conclusion" that the cause of Matthew's death was an overwhelming bacterial infection with an underlying illness of influenza which caused severe pneumonia and severe infection of the large airways.

- WAIRARAPA TIMES-AGE (MASTERTON)