31 Mar 2022

Petition to fund meningitis vaccine delivered to Parliament

From Checkpoint, 5:53 pm on 31 March 2022

The parents of a teenager who died suddenly from meningitis have delivered a petition to MPs, pleading for the government to fund vaccines against the disease.

Currently, just one vaccine is available for free - and only for 13-25-year-olds entering a boarding-school hostel, halls-of-residence, military barracks or prison.

The parents of 16-year-old Courtenay Rushton say they won't rest until all children have free access to it.

Pharmac says vaccines for meningitis are funded for close contacts of meningococcal cases, or people who are immunocompromised.

Emma Hatton reports.