Pharmac will fund meningococcal B vaccine for babies, teens and young people

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Even with prompt diagnosis and treatment, roughly 10% to 20% of patients with bacterial meningitis will die within 24 to 48 hours after the onset of symptoms.

Even with prompt diagnosis and treatment, roughly 10% to 20% of patients with bacterial meningitis will die within 24 to 48 hours after the onset of symptoms.

From Wendesday, Pharmac will fund meningococcal B vaccine for a number of potentially at-risk groups including babies, teens and young people.

The vaccine, branded as Bexsero, will be funded for children up to 12 months of age, with a catch-up programme for children aged 13 months to five years, until August 31, 2025.​

It would otherwise have cost parents more than $500 for immunisations against two strands of the disease.

The widening access means the vaccine would be included in the childhood immunisation programme.

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Also included are those aged 13 to 25​ years who are entering or in their first year of close-living situations, such as boarding school hostels, tertiary education halls of residence, military barracks or prisons.

For those not included in the funded group, the cost is approximately $150 per dose.

Bacterial meningitis – most commonly caused by the meningococcal bacteria – is the most severe and common form of meningitis (the inflammation of the membrane lining the brain and spinal cord).

LAWRENCE SMITH/Stuff

Stuff reporter Ripu Bhatia talks about his battle with meningococcal disease.

According to the Ministry of Health, u​​​​​p to 15% of the population carry the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease in their nose and throat without being sick.

In some people, for reasons not fully understood, these bacteria sometimes spread to the blood and cause blood poisoning or to the brain, causing meningitis.

Even with prompt diagnosis and treatment, roughly 10% to 20% of patients with bacterial meningitis will die within 24 to 48 hours after the onset of symptoms, and about 10% to 30% will sustain permanent damage and disability.

The vaccine will be available from GPs as well as other primary care providers.

Director of nursing at Pegasus Health, Michael McIlhone, said they were “very supportive” of the programme and encouraged young people to have a conversation with their whānau to consider getting the vaccination.

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