Meningitis Foundation Urges Action As Three Deaths From Meningococcal Meningitis Reported In Past Five Weeks

The Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand is calling
for urgent action to expand access to lifesaving
meningococcal meningitis vaccines, following five confirmed
cases of meningococcal meningitis over the past five weeks
— including three tragic deaths, the most recent occurring
over the weekend.

Foundation Chair Gerard Rushton says
the cluster of cases is a stark reminder of how devastating
and fast-moving meningococcal disease can be.

“The
loss of three lives in such a short time is utterly
heartbreaking. Every case of meningococcal disease is a
tragedy, but knowing that some of these deaths could have
been prevented with wider vaccine access makes it even
harder to accept,” Rushton says.

Currently, access
to the two meningococcal vaccines (one for Meningoicoccal B,
and another for A, C, W and Y strains) has limited public
funded in New Zealand via Pharmac, and access remains
limited for many families.

There are significant,
demonstrated savings to the health system from vaccination.
The cost to our health system is much higher than the cost
to extend access to vaccines.

Rushton says the lack of
action in addressing inequity in access to vaccines is
unnecessarily putting lives at risk.

“We are deeply
concerned that too many tamariki remain unprotected against
a disease that can take a life in hours,” he
says.

“We call upon the Government to progress
widening access to these vaccines so that cost and
circumstance are never barriers to protection. We cannot
wait until more families are grieving the loss of a loved
one to act. These are preventable deaths, and prevention is
always better than cure.”

Meningococcal disease can
strike suddenly, with symptoms often mistaken for common
illnesses. The Foundation is urging whānau, schools, and
communities to remain vigilant, and for the Government, the
Ministry of Health, and Health New Zealand to act quickly to
ensure equitable access to all available meningococcal
vaccines.

The Meningitis Foundation has submitted an
application with Pharmac to widen access to funded vaccines
for meningitis to all adolescents between the ages of 13 and
25 years. These recent cases reinforce the need for Pharmac
and the Government to move quickly as lives are at
stake.

The symptoms of meningococcal
meningitis in adults and children can
include:

• A stiff, sore neck.
• A
  sensitivity to light, or a dislike of bright lights (an
  early warning sign of meningitis).
• A severe
  headache.
• If the child or adult is difficult to
  wake, or in a drowsy and confused state.
• A fever,
  sometimes accompanied by cold hands and feet.
• Aching
  sore joints.
• Vomiting – a common symptom of
  meningitis in both children and adults.
• Convulsive
  fits or seizures is characteristic of
  meningitis.

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