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.