Phil Heatley MP for Whangarei

13 October 2004

Meningococcal B 'PC censorship' won't protect our kids

Whangarei MP Phil Heatley is appalled at the Northland District Health Board's edict to have meningococcal B vaccination posters withdrawn from Northland doctors' clinics because the photos may be 'culturally unsafe'.

"It's not just the waste of health resources that disgusts me, but the fact that our health professionals are scampering around expending their energy on something of no practical consequence when our kids lives are on the line."

Mr Heatley called for the meningococcal B vaccination programme to be brought forward from the November 22nd start date after an outbreak of the deadly disease in a Whangarei childcare centre.

"Why aren't they working to bring the vaccination start date forward, instead of wasting time on political correctness?" Mr Heatley asked.

"Their focus and energy should be on looking after our kids' health, not on PC public relations," Mr Heatley said.

ENDS

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