Vaccine results for killer disease imminent

Initial results from clinical trials of a vaccine to combat New Zealand's meningococcal disease epidemic should be out next month.

The vaccine, developed to fight the group B strain that has been responsible for most of New Zealand's meningococcal cases, has been tested on adults, schoolchildren and toddlers.

Auckland University is managing the trials, which are continuing on 6- to 8-month-old babies.

Professor Diana Lennon said yesterday that she hoped at least the adult results could be made public at the Paediatric Society of New Zealand annual scientific meeting in Queenstown late next month.

More than 200 people have died from meningococcal disease since 1991, including four in as many weeks this year.

The vaccine being tested was developed by Chiron Corporation, of California, and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health as part of the New Zealand Government's meningococcal vaccine strategy.

The strategy aims to provide all New Zealanders under 20 with free vaccination against the group B bacterium.

Early this month, the Health Ministry said the trials had so far indicated that the vaccine was safe and offered protection against the disease.

The only side effects reported were expected and minor, the ministry said.

They included a temporary sore arm, mild headaches and flu-like symptoms.

A pilot vaccination programme was planned for South Auckland as part of the strategy.

The ministry said that if there were no delays with regulatory approvals, the vaccine was expected to be available to the public next year.

- NZPA