Local family urges parents to use free vaccination against Pneumococcal Meningitis

30/05/2008 | Prevenar Vaccination

The Irvin family are relieved to see a vaccine against the Pneumococcal bacteria freely available to all children. This Palmerston North family knows how devastating the illness can be.

After contracting pneumococcal meningitis as a young baby, Jayden Irvin, now 10, lives with its impacts everyday. Jayden is totally reliant on a caregiver, suffers from severe epilepsy, major learning difficulties and is confined to a wheelchair.

Jayden’s parents, Toni and Geoff Irvin, have been lobbying the government to have a Pneumococcal vaccine included in the national immunisation schedule. Their pleas have finally been realised, with the Prevenar vaccine available from June 1, 2008.

Jayden’s mother urges parents weighing up the decision about vaccination to consider the long term impact should their child contract pneumococcal meningitis.

“We did not consider ourselves as being at-risk of contracting the disease but that didn’t stop Jayden from getting it,” says Toni Irvin. “It can happen to anyone and parents need to think about all the possibilities when they decide whether or not to vaccinate.”

Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of illness in children throughout the world. It is caused by the pneumococcal bacteria which can attack different parts of the body causing a range of health problems, including meningitis, blood poisoning and pneumonia as well as ear infections.

150 New Zealand children become seriously ill with pneumococcal infection every year. In the last twelve months, there have been three cases of pneumococcal meningitis in young children living in the MidCentral district. One case was so serious that the infant had to be urgently transferred to the intensive care unit at Starship hospital.

Dr Giles Bates, community paediatrician at MidCentral, believes the Prevenar vaccine with be highly effective in preventing the most common strain of the disease.

“The Prevenar vaccine is crucial in the fight against pneumococcal meningitis, blood poisoning and pneumonia,” says Dr Bates. “There is compelling evidence that the vaccination does work. Australia, the UK, USA and other countries are already using the vaccine and have seen a large reduction in the disease.

“It is heartbreaking to see children like Jayden affected long term, so it is wonderful to now have the vaccine available. This is a definitely a case of prevention being better than cure.”

MidCentral is not only urging parents to make sure their children are vaccinated but to also ensure they get the entire course of vaccines on time.

“Prevenar, like other vaccines on the immunisation schedule, is given over a series of injections and it is important that children receive all four,” says Dr Bates.

“It is also critical that children receive their injections on time as, if they don’t, it puts them at greater risk of contracting a preventable disease. Many general practices are proactive in reminding parents that their child is due for immunisation.

However, there is also a service available through the Immunisation Advisory Centre, whereby parents can register at www.immune.org.nz to receive email reminders of when their child’s vaccinations are due.”

Prevenar coincides with the stopping of the regular Meningococcal B vaccine (MeNZB ) programme and is available from general practitioners and other immunisation providers. All children born after January 1 2008 are eligible for the free vaccine which is given to infants at six weeks, three months, five months and 15 months of age. Children who have started the MeNZB schedule have until the end of the year to complete the schedule.

Dr Jill McKenzie, medical officer of health at MidCentral, says the decision to remove MeNZB from the immunisation schedule has been carefully considered.

“The MeNZB vaccination campaign has reduced the number of cases of meningococcal meningitis and blood poisoning to levels lower than we have seen in the past ten years. With this in mind, the amount of illness caused by pneumococcal disease has increased in relative importance, leading to the decision to fund the Prevenar vaccine for our children to prevent serious complications from pneumococcal infection," says Dr McKenzie.

Dr McKenzie reassures the public that meningococcal disease won’t go unmonitored. “Any evidence that meningococcal disease caused by epidemic strain is increasing will prompt the Ministry of Health to consider a reintroduction of the MeNZB vaccine.”

MidCentral encourages parents to contact their general practitioner team or immunisation provider for advice on whether their child is eligible for the Prevenar vaccine.

CONTACT:
Caroline Rowe
Communications Advisor – Funding Division
MidCentral District Health Board
021 162 0274