Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Smith Has Facts Wrong On Cholera Vaccine

8 August 2001 Media Statement

Nick Smith should get his facts straight regarding the access of New Zealanders travelling overseas to the Orochol Berna vaccine, Minister for the Environment Marian Hobbs said today.

"Throughout the period of the voluntary moratorium Orochol Berna was made available to GPs to prescribe for those travelling to cholera endemic countries." Marian Hobbs said.

Orochol Berna contains live genetically modified bacteria. A request to allow an application to be made to ERMA for approval to release Orochol Berna was turned down by the government because of the voluntary moratorium.

"However the government took a common sense decision to allow emergency supplies of the Orochol Berna vaccine to be made available until an alternative was found. That alternative, Dukoral, has recently become available in New Zealand.

"The safety of New Zealanders travelling to cholera effected countries has and is being protected. Medsafe has advised it is rare to vaccinate for cholera but if a person travelling to a suspect area wants to be vaccinated then vaccine is available. Dr Smith is simply scaremongering."

The government will make an announcement about the future of the voluntary moratorium before 31 August.

"Through the moratorium the government has built up the trust of a wide range of groups. We made a commitment that the moratorium would last until 31 August and we will stick to that." Ms Hobbs said.

Ends

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

Featured News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.