Northland Community Meningococcal W Outbreak Vaccination Programme
Quick Links
Consent form (fill in, sign and bring along to the clinic)
Updated 2.10PM - Wednesday 20 November 2019
Update on vaccine to meningococcal vaccine
From 1 December 2019, PHARMAC will be funding a meningococcal ACWY vaccine - Menactra) -for individuals aged 13 to 25 years in close-living situations.
This means that one dose of meningococcal ACWY vaccine is funded for those aged 13 years to 24 years (under 25 years) who:
- are entering within the next three months, or are in their first year of living in boarding school hostels, tertiary education halls of residents, military barracks or prisons;
In addition, from 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020 people already living in boarding school hostels, tertiary education halls of residents, military barracks or prisons will also have access to the vaccine.
Providers will be able to enter the vaccinations given on the NIR via their PMS and claim for the vaccine administration in the same way they currently do for other special groups (high risk) vaccinations.
It is important to note that the ACWY vaccine does not provide protection against meningococcal B disease. As a result, it is important to consider meningococcal disease even in people who have been vaccinated if they present with symptoms consistent with meningococcal disease.
Updated 2.30PM - Monday 8 April 2019
Updated 4PM - Friday 15 March 2019
General Practices across Northland are offering free meningococcal W vaccination to children from 9 months to under 5 years and 13 to under 20 years up until the end of April 2019. Please phone the general practice to make an appointment.
Bayview Medical Centre
Bream Bay Medical Centre
Broadway Health Centre Kaikohe
Broadway Health Kaitaia
Bush Road Medical Centre
Central Family Health Centre
Commercial Street Surgery
Dargaville Medical Centre
Hauora Whanui Kawakawa MC
Hikurangi Medical Centre
James Street Doctors Ltd
Kerimed Doctors
Kaitaia Health Centre, Puckey Ave
Kensington Health
Ngunguru Medical Centre
Northland Environmental Centre
Onerahi Medical Centre
Paihia Medical Centre
Rata Family Health
Raumanga Medical Centre
Russell Medical Services
Rust Ave Medical Centre
Te Aroha Noa Medical Centre
Te Hiku Hauora (Kaitaia Clinic) Redan Road
Te Hiku Hauora (Mamaru clinic) Coopers
Te Whareora O Tikipunga
The Doctors Kamo
The Doctors Kerikeri
The Doctors Tikipunga
Top Health
Tui Medical Centre
Waiarohia Medical
West End Medical Centre
Whangaroa Health Services
Updated 11.30 AM - Wednesday 6 March, 2019
These Pharmacies are offering free meningococcal W vaccination for children 13 to under 20 years up until the end of April 2019.
- Kamo Unichem
- Maunu Pharmacy
- Kensington Pharmacy
- Shackletons Pharmacy Kaitaia
- Kerikeri Unichem.
Updated 1.30 PM - Tuesday 5 March, 2019
General Practices across Northland are offering free meningococcal W vaccination to children from 9 months to under 5 years and 13 to under 20 years up until the end of April 2019. Please phone the general practice to make an appointment.
Bream Bay Medical Centre
Broadway Health Centre Kaikohe
Broadway Health Kaitaia
Bush Road Medical Centre
Central Family Health Centre
Commercial Street Surgery
Dargaville Medical Centre
Hauora Whanui Kawakawa MC
Hikurangi Medical Centre
James Street Doctors Ltd
Kaitaia Health Centre, Puckey Ave
Kensington Health
Ngunguru Medical Centre
Rata Family Health
Raumanga Medical Centre
Russell Medical Services
Rust Ave Medical Centre
Te Aroha Noa Medical Centre
Te Hiku Hauora (Kaitaia Clinic) Redan Road
Te Hiku Hauora (Mamaru clinic) Coopers
Te Whareora O Tikipunga
The Doctors Kamo
The Doctors Kerikeri
The Doctors Tikipunga
Top Health
Tui Medical Centre
Waiarohia Medical
Waipu Medical Centre
West End Medical Centre
Whangaroa Health Services
Updated 4.30 PM - Friday 22 February, 2019
The intensive response to the meningococcal W outbreak in Northland has ended today.
Northland DHB is continuing to hold outbreak vaccination clinics in secondary schools until 8 March.
General practices and some pharmacies have been approached to continue offering a publicly funded vaccine in coming weeks.
Details about which general practices and pharmacies will be providing a free vaccination service will be posted on our website next week.
The DHB will complete a vaccine stocktake next week, which will determine what steps will be taken going forward.
You can download the consent form from here - Consent form or pick one up from the school office.
Children can bring the consent form back to school prior to the clinic day or they can bring it with them when they present for vaccination.
All signed consent forms from children vaccinated at these school clinics go into the draw to win one of five phone data vouchers valued at $200 each.
Consent form (fill in, sign and bring along to the clinic)
Updated 8.15 PM - Wednesday 30 January, 2019
FREE Meningococcal W Outbreak Vaccination for Northland children only Waitangi Mobile Drop-in Clinic
Monday 4 & Tuesday 5 February
Te Tii Waitangi Marae Grounds
1pm until 6pm
For Northland children aged from 9 months to under 5 years and those aged 13 to under 20 years at the time of presentation.
Men W Outbreak campaign Ends 22 February.
Updated 3PM - Tuesday 8 January, 2019
Stage Two of the Meningococcal W community outbreak campaign is underway with pharmacies offering vaccinations across Northland.
From 21 January additional DHB community clinics across the region will have been established which may include Māori Providers and primary care offering vaccination to the eligible age groups.
“Seven pharmacies across Northland are offering vaccination for the cohort 13 years to under 20,” noted Jeanette Wedding, General Manager, Child, Youth, Maternal, Oral, Public Health Services and District Hospitals.
“In some of these pharmacies a nurse vaccinator will be on-site to vaccinate children 9 months to under 5 years, and you can find this information on our website - Go to Finding A Clinic .”
While nearly 11,000 Northlanders were vaccinated in just 16 days the DHB cautions the public not to become complacent, as we have only reached the mid-point of the campaign.
“This has been a great effort to reach this number is such a short period, however our job isn’t done yet.
“We will continue to offer the free vaccination programme until 22 February to eligible Northland resident children aged 9 months up to 5 years and youth 13 up to 20 years of age.”
Reaching the young people aged 13 to under 20 years is a particular focus of Stage Two.
“We know that many of our young people haven’t been vaccinated yet so we are working closely with youth organisations and employers to increase the uptake.
“This is important because this is the age group that generally carries the bacterium that causes the disease. Even if they have no symptoms, carriers can infect those around them.”
Vaccinating this age group will lower the number of carriers in Northland and stop the spread of meningococcal disease across the entire community.
There have been no further cases of Meningococcal W in Northland, since the decision to implement the community outbreak campaign in November 2018.
Updated 13:30 - Friday 21 December
MenW Vaccination Campaign reaches mid-point in Northland
While nearly 11,000 Northlanders have been vaccinated in just 16 days; Medical Officer of Health Dr Jose Ortega Benito cautions the public not to become complacent, as we have only reached the mid-point of the campaign.
“This has been a great effort to reach this number is such a short period, however our job isn’t done yet. We will continue to offer the free vaccination programme over the next two months, to eligible Northland resident children aged 9 months up to 5 years and youth 13 up to 20 years of age”
While the main centre clinics will shut down over the Christmas period, seven pharmacies across Northland are offering vaccination for the cohort 13 years to under 20. In some of these pharmacies a nurse vaccinator will be on-site to vaccinate children 9 months to under 5 years. *
Planning is currently underway for Phase 2 of the campaign, Dr Ortega adding this includes considerations around targeted outreach clinics and a secondary school-based programmes for February.
All information will be published via the Northland DHB website and Facebook page to keep our community informed. Go to Finding A Clinic
“Our sincere thanks to our Northland Community and our team of nurses, support staff and partner health providers. Your patience, your hard work and your support has made a huge difference to the campaign”.
Updated 6.30 pm - Tuesday 18 December
Please NOTE* Venues in Hokianga are as follows;
WED 19 December
Rawene and Pawarenga clinics
9am-3pm
THURS 20 December
Rawene and Horeke clinics
9am - 3pm
FRI 21 December
Rawene clinic
9am-12pm
On 5 December, just nine days after the outbreak was declared, Northland DHB launched the Meningococcal W community outbreak campaign, in the first week activating clinics in three main centres, Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Whangarei with Hokianga Health delivering clinics in Rawene.
As of Friday 21 December more than 108 dedicated staff will have delivered 139 clinics with the community who have turned up in their thousands to be protected against the deadly disease.
Phase One of the community outbreak vaccination campaign lasts until this Friday, 21 December, for both cohorts (groups ages 9 month to <5 y, and 13 y to <20 y).
If you have a 9 month to under 5 year old or a 13 to under 20 year old in your care, please visit a clinic near you - Finding A Clinic
While the main centre clinics shut down over the Christmas period, seven pharmacies across Northland are offering vaccination for the cohort 13 years to under 20. Go to Finding A Clinic
From 14 – 25 January the DHB, community and Māori health providers will be providing targeted outreach clinics to reach the remaining children 9 month to <5 y, and young adults that were not vaccinated in Phase one.
A secondary school based programme in early February is also being considered to ensure that all the eligible 13 to under 20 year olds have been vaccinated.
Updated 4pm - Monday 17 December
The Northland community vaccination programme ends this Friday at 4pm. If you have any 9 month to under 5 years and 13 to under 20 year olds who have not been vaccinated please make sure you go with them to a clinic near you by Friday 21 Dec.
Today we have posted information about the pharmacies who will be offering vaccination to eligible children and we will keep you informed on what is happening in January to make sure we immunise everyone who is eligible.
Updated 11.30 - Wednesday 12 December
Make sure you keep an eye on the Finding a Clinic page - we have added two new clinics that Ngāti Hine Health Trust are providing next week - Kawakawa and Moerewa.
Updated 9am - Tuesday 11 December
After yesterday we have reached 5112 people who have been vaccinated at a community MenW vaccination clinic across Northland.
Great work everyone and thank you community - the clinics are on for another 11 days - go to the link above to find out where a clinic is near you.
Updated 3.00 PM - Monday 10 December
After five days of the community MenW vaccination clinics, 3786 people have been vaccinated. This week there are many more clinics across Northland - go Finding A Clinic for more information. It is really important that all children in the target groups are vaccinated - if you know someone with a young family or young people 13 to under 20 years please remind them to be vaccinated.
We have also updated the FAQs with the questions you have asked during the last week.
Updated 3.00 PM - Wednesday 5 December
Thank you to everyone who came to the community MenW vaccination clinics today. We know many of you had to wait a long time so we really appreciate your patience. We have had quite a lot of feedback and there are a couple of things we think you might find helpful
• Here is a link to the consent form which you can fill in, sign and bring in with you when you come
• Please make sure you have water and sunscreen – and if there is a long wait you will also need food and nappies to help keep your child comfortable.
The Whangarei clinic is closing at 4 PM today because there are so many people waiting.
Remember, the Whangarei clinic is on for the next 2 1 /2 weeks including Sunday so consider when will be best for you to come.
Updated 10.00 AM - Wednesday 5 December
Building Herd Immunity
For the parents of children aged 5 to under 13 years, we sincerely understand your concerns about them not being able to receive the free meningococcal vaccine at this time.
We want to reassure you that what we are doing with the limited amount of vaccine doses available to us in Northland will help protect your children (aged 5 to13 years).
Vaccine stocks are limited, both nationally and internationally. New Zealand has purchased the 20,000 doses that are available immediately and Northland has been given these doses for the most vulnerable in our community.
Therefore we are vaccinating those most at risk from the disease and also those most likely to carry the disease and infect others.
These two groups are children aged from 9 months to under 5 years and those aged 13 to under 20 years who are Northland residents.
In other words, vaccinating these age groups will help protect all the people in Northland, also known as herd immunity.
We are targeting children under 5 because this is the population that is generally most affected by meningococcal disease. Vaccinating this age group will protect them from getting meningococcal disease. The vaccine cannot be given to babies under 9 months.
We’re targeting 13 to under 20 year olds because this is the age group that generally carries the bacterium that causes the disease. Even if they have no symptoms, carriers can infect those around them. Vaccinating this age group will lower the number of carriers in Northland and stop the spread of meningococcal disease across the entire community.
If you have any questions please phone 0800 600 720 – 8am to 8pm –to speak to a local Public Health Nurse.
It is important to seek medical help immediately if you or your child have any of the symptoms of meningococcal disease by contacting your local accident and medical or ED department, your GP or Healthline 0800 611 116. Symptoms of meningococcal disease include fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, rash, drowsiness or irritability.
Men W may not have the traditional symptoms of meningococcal disease described above. As a result, it is important to seek medical attention if you or your child feels very sick.
Updated 7.30 AM – Saturday 1 December
Sadly a 12 year old from Northland passed away on Thursday and our thoughts are with the family and friends. We want to confirm that the diagnosis was NOT meningococcal and the death has been referred to the coroner.
We do understand that people are worried however sharing incorrect information can cause a lot of harm so please be careful. The best thing you can do is make sure you understand how best to protect your children and what is being done by the public health team to achieve this.
Meningococcal W vaccine stocks are limited, both nationally and internationally. Pharmac have sourced 20,000 doses, which is all coming to Northland. 10,000 doses have arrived and the remaining 10,000 doses are on route.
So what do we do to best protect our community with the limited Meningococcal W vaccine available?
We focus on building our whole populations immunity.
To do this we are vaccinating those most at risk from the disease and also those most likely to carry the disease and infect others.
These two groups are children aged from 9 months to under 5 years and those aged 13 to under 20 years who are Northland residents.
We are targeting children under 5 because this is the population that is generally most affected by meningococcal disease. As a result, vaccinating this age group will protect them from getting meningococcal disease. The vaccine cannot be given to babies under 9 months.
We’re targeting 13 to under 20 year olds because this is the age group that generally carries the bacterium that causes the disease. Even if they have no symptoms, carriers can infect those around them. Vaccinating this age group will lower the number of carriers in Northland and stop the spread of meningococcal disease across the entire community.
In other words, vaccinating this age group will help protect all the people in Northland.
We know that general practice are doing what they can to source private doses of the vaccine which could be given to children aged between the ages of 5 and 13 years. There will be a cost so please discuss this with your health professional.
To ensure that we build our whole communities immunity, which would help protect the 5 to 13 year olds, please have your children aged from 9 months to under 5 years and those aged 13 to under 20 years who are Northland residents, vaccinated at the free community clinics.
Meningococcal disease bacteria can be spread from person-to-person through secretions and respiratory droplets. Therefore, we recommend covering your nose or mouth when you sneeze or cough, and wash and dry your hands afterwards. Also, avoid sharing eating or drinking utensils, toothbrushes and pacifiers.
Updated 4 PM – Thursday 29 November
- You can visit any of the Meningococcal clinics within Northland but you must be a Northland resident.
- Please bring your Well Child Book, or Plunket book and NHI (if known)
- Clinic venues have been selected in relation to the number of people enrolled in each area.
- Please be aware that the main centres will be busy so plan for this and consider that the clinics are on over a 2 ½ week period
- Note: You will be required to wait 20 minutes after the vaccination.
Who can be vaccinated?
We will vaccinate children aged from 9 months to under 5 years and those aged 13 to under 20 years who are Northland residents.
Why are we only targeting under 5s (9 months to 4 years of age more exactly) and 13 to under 20-year-olds?
We are targeting children under 5 because this is the population that is generally most affected by meningococcal disease. As a result, vaccinating this age group will protect them from getting meningococcal disease. The vaccine cannot be given to babies under 9 months.
We’re targeting 13 to under 20-year-olds because this is the age group that generally carries the bacterium that causes the disease. Even if they have no symptoms, carriers can infect those around them. Vaccinating this age group will lower the number of carriers in Northland and stop the spread of meningococcal disease across the entire community. In other words, vaccinating this age group will help protect all the people in Northland.
What is Meningococcal W?
Meningococcal disease bacteria can be spread from person-to-person through secretions and respiratory droplets. Therefore, we recommend covering your nose or mouth when you sneeze or a cough, and wash and dry your hands afterwards. Also, avoid sharing eating or drinking utensils, toothbrushes and pacifiers.
Meningococcal disease can progress very quickly and may initially appear as a flu-like illness.
With the flu season coming to an end it is important that anyone who has flu-like symptoms, especially high fever and muscle aches or meningitis symptoms, seeks medical advice quickly.
Meningococcal disease is one of the most difficult to diagnose as patients often present with a range of symptoms, such as headache or fever that are consistent with a number of other illnesses.
People need to be aware of the symptoms of meningococcal disease. The vaccine that will be given in Northland provides protection against four strains of meningococcal disease (A, C, W and Y) but not for the B strain, which is also common in New Zealand.
If you notice any of the symptoms of meningococcal disease or have any other concerns, contact your doctor without delay – or call Healthline free on 0800 611 116 at any hour of the day or night, even if you have already been seen by a health professional.
Finding A Clinic
Useful Links
Additional information about meningococcal - Ministry of Health
The Immunisation Advisory Centre
FAQ
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