Pharmac consider extension to free vaccination programme
An estimated 100,000 pre-schoolers are still unprotected.
Photo:
SERGII IAREMENKO/SCIENCE PHOTO L
Pharmac says it's exploring ways to extend a free meningoccocal B vaccine programme, with an estimated 100,000 eligible pre-schoolers still not protected.
Meningitis prevention advocates have pressured health officials to continue the campaign, which is due to end on 31 August.
Pharmac pharmaceuticals director Geraldine MacGibbon said Pharmac funds the meningococcal B vaccine for all children under the age of one.
"In March 2023, Pharmac funded a catch-up programme for children under the age of five to better protect young New Zealanders from meningococcal B.
"We understand that people are keen to see the catch-up period extended and we are actively exploring options for this."
"We will keep interested groups, including the Meningitis Foundation, informed about any updates," MacGibbon said.
According to the Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand, meningococcal bacteria can cause meningococcal meningitis - inflammation of the meninges, the membrane lining of the brain and spinal cord - and/or septicaemia (blood poisoning).
Foundation chair Gerard Rushton said the meningococcal B vaccination programme was initiated after a submission the foundation made to Parliament and an application to Pharmac.
He said more than 400,000 doses were given out in the first 12 months of the campaign.
"We're calling on Health New Zealand and the government to actually continue this programme, because we know it works. We know it will save lives.
"We know it's going to take pressure off the already-stretched health system.
"What we're saying is this campaign has been very successful and it's been proven that people want it, but there's still 100,000 of our tamariki that haven't been protected, so we're calling them to keep this programme going.
"We're really concerned that this large sector of our community are going to miss out. The vaccination rates for our young are still far too low, but we need them to extend this programme, because we need to protect those 100,000 of our children who are still unvaccinated."
A Health New Zealand spokesperson said it was are "responsible for the implementation of the programme".
"Pharmac funds the meningococcal B catch-up programme and set the timeframe from 1 March 2023 to 31 August 2025."
A Health New Zealand spokesperson said, as of 9 June 2025, 84 percent of eligible children under 15 months had at least one dose of the meningococcal B vaccine.
"Whānau can access the meningococcal B vaccines from a range of places, including general practice, hauora Māori and Pacific providers, with many Wellchild Tamariki Ora Services, including Whānau Āwhina Plunket, offering immunisations.
"There are also more than 122 pharmacies now offering the vaccine for children aged from three years.
"The meningococcal B vaccination is a part of the national immunisation schedule.
"As a part of the Government's Health Target, we are focused on lifting childhood immunisation rates and we are making good progress towards this goal," said the spokesperson.
Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand chair Gerard Rushton said his organisation didn't see a reason for the catch-up programme to be discontinued.
"Māori and Pasifika are 4-5 times more likely to catch meningitis than the European population, so they are a higher risk at the moment. We struggle to understand why there's a vaccination programme at the moment that actually discriminates against them.
"The full vaccination programme was that the babies are free, there was a catch-up programme for 13-month to 5-year-olds, and that first-year students in boarding schools, halls of residence, barracks or prisons could get it free."
"We feel that discriminates against the biggest at-risk group we've got, which is our Māori and Pasifika, because they're under-represented at halls of residence and boarding schools," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Police pull-back from mental crisis callouts continues
The police's planned retreat from mental health crisis callouts will reach another milestone on Monday. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller The police's staged retreat from responding to mental crisis callouts reaches another milestone on Monday, with a 60-minute limit on patient handovers at emergency departments taking effect nationwide. That change - along with a requirement for people in mental distress to be assessed in health settings, not police cells - is the second of four stages in a year-long programme announced by former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster last August. The rollout has been slower than planned , due to the fact health services in some regions were not ready. Phase Two changes take effect from Monday in the third and final group of regions: Police assistant commissioner Mike Johnson said police and health remained committed to "joint efforts towards making sure people have access to the right help at the right time, which works best for them". "Police have always, and will always, respond when there is an immediate risk to life or safety. The change is about an increased health-led response, enabling our staff more time to get back into our communities do the work that only police can." Health NZ director of specialist mental health and addiction Karla Bergquist said a range of mental health support was available "for those who need it". "This change is about ensuring people requiring mental health support receive the right care at the right time, while maintaining the safety and well-being of patients and our staff. "I'd like to assure the public there is a range of services to help people in mental distress or those who are concerned about the mental health of whānau. "If a person is in serious mental distress or crisis, support is available from their local crisis team." Phase Two had "generally gone well" in districts with strong local partnerships between police and health, she said. Bergquist said detailed planning for Phase Three was underway and it was hoped to confirm new implementation dates soon. "We will continue communicating with each district to ensure a successful, joint approach to Phase Three for both NZ Police and Health NZ and the people who come into contact with our services. "An implementation date for Phase Four is unconfirmed but it will follow Phase Three." Phase Three - which was initially to begin April to June - involves police applying a "new response thresholds" to requests for assistance from health practitioners, or to help with missing person reports from mental health wards and facilities. Phase Four - originally scheduled to take effect between July and September - will cut ED handovers to 15 minutes, unless there is an immediate safety risk, and fewer welfare checks "when there is no risk of criminality or to life or safety". Police said there were "a lot of complexities to these changes" and further consideration and consultation would occur before any final decisions were made. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
7 hours ago
- RNZ News
Covid-19 isolation and testing rules in 2025: What you need to know
Do you still have to isolate if you get Covid? Photo: FANATIC STUDIO / SCIENCE PHOTO L Explainer - We know, nobody wants to think about Covid these days if you can help it. However, it's still out there, and a recent surge in cases and a persistent new variant are driving a new wave of concern. We're a long way from lockdowns and mandates, but are you still required to isolate and how can you do testing? RNZ is here with what you need to know. Nope, and with winter weather and influenza as well, it's a good time to remember how to take a few precautions for yourself and others. There has been a sharp jump in Covid and other respiratory infections including influenza in the past few weeks. Yet another new variant, NB.1.8.1, has also developed and become the dominant strain in Asia and is rising quickly in Australia and New Zealand. It has been about a year since the last large wave of Covid cases, and University of Otago epidemiologist Dr Amanda Kvalsvig said many people have become complacent. "To those of us watching the Covid evidence closely, it's clear that NZ is under-reacting to this virus and unprepared for a winter wave," she said. It is still strongly recommended to isolate for at least five days if you test positive, even if your symptoms are mild. "This is to prevent spreading Covid-19 to other people," Health New Zealand says . "You would start your isolation at Day 0 - this is the day your symptoms started or when you tested positive, whichever came first." University of Otago epidemiologist Dr Amanda Kvalsvig. Photo: Amanda Kvalsvig Dr Kvalsvig said a New Zealand study in 2023 estimated that even with a five-day isolation period, around two in five people were still potentially infectious at the end of that time. "So five days of isolation is really an absolute minimum. To protect those around us, we should all take extra precautions for a few more days, such as wearing a mask and delaying visiting friends and family members who might be vulnerable." All legal mandates to isolate were dropped in 2023 , but there are still strong recommendations in place. "I do think people are less cautious now regarding the Covid-19 virus," said Dr Joan Ingram, medical advisor at the University of Auckland's Immunisation Advisory Centre. "To an extent that is to be expected now that most of us have some hybrid immunity from both immunisations and previous infection with the virus." Still, Covid remains a serious illness for many, she said. "So it is sensible and considerate for those with Covid-19 to stay away from others, especially for the first few days of the illness when they are more likely to spread the virus." "When I have Covid-19, I stay in a room away from others and stay home until my tests are negative. "We also need to recommend this for other respiratory infections, such as influenza. Think of others and keep your infections away from others if possible. Going to crowded, poorly ventilated settings when you are coughing and sneezing is unhelpful and inconsiderate. Consistently wear a mask if you do have to be near others." RAT tests are no longer free but still widely available. Photo: AFP You do not need a negative RAT result to return to work or school, but use common sense and talk with your employer before rocking up sneezing and coughing. "Employers should support employees to isolate in line with health guidance," Employment New Zealand says . "Asking a worker to come to work while sick could put the health of other workers at risk, and result in further disruption." For many families who are struggling, staying away from work may be difficult but a good employer can help, Dr Kvalsvig said. "Employers that ensure good indoor air quality, provide test kits for their employees, and support staying home when sick are likely to see multiple benefits with reduced levels of sickness absence and Long Covid." The Covid-19 leave support scheme, which helped employers pay employees who had to self-isolate due to the virus, ended in August 2023 . "Many still aren't well enough to be at work or school when their five-day isolation period is over," Dr Kvalsvig said. "Resting well is an important part of recovery from Covid and it would be good to see employers and schools supporting people to take an appropriate amount of sickness absence." Unfortunately, free rapid antigen tests (RATs) provided by the government ended in September 2024 . The typical cost of a RAT test is around $5, or multipacks of 5 can be had for under $20 at pharmacies and other markets. When the free tests were dropped there were concerns the move would hit low-income people harder. Many people may still have stockpiles of expired RAT tests in their cupboard. Ingram said it is best to get an unexpired test, but one can check the American FDA's website for an idea of the total shelf life of certain tests. Photo: Supplied / ESR Reported case numbers dropped starting in 2022 and "it's never really recovered," Dr Kvalsvig said. "Unfortunately, people were not testing or reporting much even when RAT tests were free," Dr Ingram said. "It would be good if they were still freely available, but I am not sure how much it would change the reporting." However, wastewater testing by crown research institute ESR has shown a large leap in SARS-CoV-2 traces in recent months. Its figures show a dramatic rise in the past month in wastewater testing samples compared to reported case numbers. The Auckland region shows an even more dramatic spike in wastewater levels. Photo: Supplied / ESR "Wastewater levels are currently the best indicator we have of community cases," Dr Kvalsvig said. "We're very lucky that the team at ESR are providing this vital information and there's a huge amount of hard work going on behind the scenes to analyse the variants and make sense of the data. We would be in a very difficult situation without this information, with no early warning of Covid waves and no idea about what variants might be spreading." New Zealand still needs more community-driven reporting, such as the Well Kiwis studies, she said. You can still report your own RAT test results through . Yes, Covid vaccines are available free for everyone aged 5 and over. However, if you've already had a vaccine and booster, as most people have by now, generally only those over age 30 are able to get multiple boosters, at least 6 months apart. Younger people can get additional doses if they are at risk of severe illness - see Health NZ's website for the full rundown. Influenza also remains a big concern and people should get their annual vaccinations, Dr Ingram said. "The US had more influenza hospitalisations over their recent winter than they have had since the 2010-2011 season, so I urge all people (including children) to have an influenza immunisation even if they are healthy." Flu vaccines are free for people aged 65 and over , pregnant women and those with some pre-existing conditions. Otherwise the vaccine runs between $25 to $45, Health NZ says. Covid is likely here to stay in some form, epidemiologists have said. But as always, the disease remains changing. "Covid is more manageable now and we have better strategies and tools in the toolbox: we just need to use them," Dr Kvalsvig said. "Aside from staying home when sick, clean indoor air and good quality masks are highly effective protections that NZ has been really slow to pick up. Once we do, we'll never want to go back to the same level of sickness we experience each winter." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
21 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Pharmac considers extension to free vaccination programme
By Victor Waters of RNZ Pharmac says it's exploring ways to extend a free meningoccocal B vaccine programme, with an estimated 100,000 eligible pre-schoolers still not protected. Meningitis prevention advocates have pressured health officials to continue the campaign, which is due to end on August 31. Pharmac pharmaceuticals director Geraldine MacGibbon said Pharmac funds the meningococcal B vaccine for all children under the age of one. "In March 2023, Pharmac funded a catch-up programme for children under the age of five to better protect young New Zealanders from meningococcal B. "We understand that people are keen to see the catch-up period extended and we are actively exploring options for this." "We will keep interested groups, including the Meningitis Foundation, informed about any updates," MacGibbon said. According to the Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand, meningococcal bacteria can cause meningococcal meningitis - inflammation of the meninges, the membrane lining of the brain and spinal cord - and/or septicaemia (blood poisoning). Foundation chair Gerard Rushton said the meningococcal B vaccination programme was initiated after a submission the foundation made to Parliament and an application to Pharmac. He said more than 400,000 doses were given out in the first 12 months of the campaign. "We're calling on Health New Zealand and the government to actually continue this programme, because we know it works. We know it will save lives. "We know it's going to take pressure off the already-stretched health system. "What we're saying is this campaign has been very successful and it's been proven that people want it, but there's still 100,000 of our tamariki that haven't been protected, so we're calling them to keep this programme going. "We're really concerned that this large sector of our community are going to miss out. The vaccination rates for our young are still far too low, but we need them to extend this programme, because we need to protect those 100,000 of our children who are still unvaccinated." A Health New Zealand spokesperson said it was are "responsible for the implementation of the programme". "Pharmac funds the meningococcal B catch-up programme and set the timeframe from 1 March 2023 to 31 August 2025." A Health New Zealand spokesperson said, as of 9 June 2025, 84 percent of eligible children under 15 months had at least one dose of the meningococcal B vaccine. "Whānau can access the meningococcal B vaccines from a range of places, including general practice, hauora Māori and Pacific providers, with many Wellchild Tamariki Ora Services, including Whānau Āwhina Plunket, offering immunisations. "There are also more than 122 pharmacies now offering the vaccine for children aged from three years. "The meningococcal B vaccination is a part of the national immunisation schedule. "As a part of the Government's Health Target, we are focused on lifting childhood immunisation rates and we are making good progress towards this goal," said the spokesperson. Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand chair Gerard Rushton said his organisation didn't see a reason for the catch-up programme to be discontinued. "Māori and Pasifika are 4-5 times more likely to catch meningitis than the European population, so they are a higher risk at the moment. We struggle to understand why there's a vaccination programme at the moment that actually discriminates against them. "The full vaccination programme was that the babies are free, there was a catch-up programme for 13-month to 5-year-olds, and that first-year students in boarding schools, halls of residence, barracks or prisons could get it free." "We feel that discriminates against the biggest at-risk group we've got, which is our Māori and Pasifika, because they're under-represented at halls of residence and boarding schools," he said.
