Children under the age of five may not be protected from the deadly meningococcal disease, even if they only received the vaccination months ago.
Meningococcal disease can affect anyone but is more prominent among Maori and Pacific Islanders. Maori contract the disease at double and Pacific four times the rate of Europeans. The risk is also high amongst children younger than five across all ethnicities.
Professor Diana Lennon, an Auckland University paediatrician, told the New Zealand Herald that many of the under 20 year-olds in the $200 million-plus campaign which finished in May this year would not be protected from the disease.
There have been 109 reported cases of the epidemic strain of meningococcal from those vaccinated, 60 partially and 49 fully.
However a paediatrician at Middlemore Hospital told NZ Herald she has not received any cases of the strain since the campaign.
Professor Lennon said it was unclear if another epidemic would occur, such as the one reported in 2004, even though vaccinations have worn off.
The mass programme started in 2004, injections and follow up doses are still available for infants and those at high risk - determined by a GP.
The original material that was given to people prior and after vaccination stated that it would not necessarily protect every person who received the three-dose injection and that protection would last a few years, but the exact period is unknown.
The Ministry of Health told Spasifikmag.com that further publication would be available for Pacific and Maori to ensure people know about change in predicted time-span for vaccination from “a few years” to months.
It is important to see a doctor immediately if these arise as four per cent of those with the disease have resulted in death, sometimes within hours of initial symptoms.
Early treatment of the disease with antibiotics is best if symptoms do arise. Babies may have a fever, refuse feeds, vomit, and be sleepy or harder to wake. An adult may have a fever or headache, vomit, have a stiff neck and other symptoms.
