Emergency MenW meningoccocal vaccine starts in Northland

An emergency vaccination campaign begins in Northland today to combat the new deadly 'W' strain of meningococcal disease. There've been 29 cases nationally - seven of them in Northland, and three of those fatal. Over the next three weeks Northland DHB hopes to vaccinate 20,000 children and young people. Because the vaccine's in short supply it's targeting the high risk age groups: nine months to 5 years, and teenagers. It's pulled in 40 staff from around the region to run free public clinics starting this morning in Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Whangarei. They'll remain open for the entire three weeks including weekends - and there'll be shorter clinics in smaller, poorer communities like Kaikohe. There's been some criticism of that in social media. But the service manager, Cath Bowmar, says it's a matter of practicality. The vaccination clinics open at 11.30am at Kaitaia Hospital, Kerikeri High School, and Whangarei Girls' High. They'll be open till 6pm. All the clinic details are listed on the Northland DHB website.