From secondary prevention to primary prevention: a unique strategy that gives hope to a country ravaged by meningococcal disease.
New Zealand has been affected by an epidemic of group B meningococcal disease dominated by a strain defined as, B:4:P1.7b,4. Over 5550 cases and 222 deaths have been reported since 1991 in a population of 4 million people. Meningococcal disease cases notified on EpiServ database operated by Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited through to 30 September 2004. Through the collaborative efforts of a government agency, vaccine company, university and laboratory institute, clinical trials of the Chiron produced outer membrane vesicle (OMV) strain-specific MeNZB vaccine were run in rapid succession. The delivery of MeNZB will be New Zealand's largest immunisation programme with three doses given at 6-week intervals to over 1 million people aged 6 weeks-19 year olds inclusive. Planning, co-ordinating and delivering the immunisation programme is a challenging project for the New Zealand Health Sector.
O'Hallahan
Jane
J
Ministry of Health, Level 1, Old Bank Chambers, Customhouse Quay, P.O. Box 5013, Wellington, New Zealand. jane_ohallahan@moh.govt.nz
Lennon
Diana
D
Oster
Philipp
P
Lane
Robbie
R
Reid
Stewart
S
Mulholland
Kim
K
Stewart
Joanna
J
Penney
Liane
L
Percival
Teuila
T
Martin
Diana
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009313:National Health Programs; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000276:immunology*; D009520:New Zealand
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines