Open Questions for the Minister of Health

Press Release
Open Questions for the Media to ask the Minister of Health
Ron Law,
Risk & Policy Analyst

1.Has the MeNZB vaccine increased the risk of babies contracting the so-called epidemic strain of meningococcal disease? If so, by how much and why hasn't the public of New Zealand been told?

2.How many fully MeNZB vaccinated children have contracted any form of meningococcal disease?

3.How many fully MeNZB vaccinated children have died from any form of meningococcal disease in each of the DHBs?

4.How many fully MeNZB vaccinated children have died from the so-called epidemic form of meningococcal disease in each of the DHBs?

5.How children whose parents declined the MeNZB vaccine have died?

6. Why did officials and Victoria University researchers tell the public of New Zealand that unvaccinated children were 5 time more likely to contract the epidemic strain of meningococcal disease, yet in their published paper state that it was only 3.7 times more likely to contract the epidemic strain?

7.What is the current calculation of effectiveness of MeNZB for all age-groups?

8.Is it true that the steady decline in meningococcal disease rates in under one year olds stopped when the MeNZB vaccine was rolled out and the rate of disease increased?

9.Is it true that the meningococcal disease rate for under one year olds is still over 50 cases per 100,000 babies?

10.What is the current meningococcal disease rate for each of the District Health Boards?

11.How many deaths does the Ministry of Health believe have been prevented by the 250 million dollars spent on the MeNZB vaccine so far?

ENDS