Alex

Hi, I just thought I would tell other Mums thinking of coming to New Zealand of my recent experience.
We have been here now for 2 months, and are settling in fine....the girls are in school and there vaccination records were checked "yup, menningitis is there, fine"
However we recently were in a conversation with some expat G.Ps who advised us that the menningitis strain is different in New Zealand to that of the UK . I was quite shocked as I lost my Goddaughter at the age of 9 to it...and so I phoned the Doctors surgery and found this to be true.
I have now booked the girls in for there set of 3 injections.
I am probably telling people who already know, however better safe than sorry.

annaerb

Yes, very True and all kids upto the age of 19 should be vaccinated here, it is FREE.
A friend of mine has one of her work collegues in hospital right now with meningitis, it's really nasty.
Be wise Imminunise (as the saying goes).

SarahB

Yes, youre right its a different strain here. My 2 year old son was totally up to date with vaccs when we left UK. Here he had to have 7 more to catch up with the NZ kids.

poppets

Our kids need menningitis B & hib B (i thinks the B bit is right but they definatley need menningitis - 3 injections, & hib -3 injections) here in Nz to be up to date. They had all injections required in UK.

uk+kiwi

Really thoughtful of you to share that information. And I am so very sorry to hear about your Goddaughter. How extremely sad. It's just not something we really expect these days. Just felt compelled to say that and also how kind your message was. Carmen.

Andrew Cross

Sorry to hear about your Goddaughter.
We have not yet registered with a doctor (no-one sick yet, touch wood). So how do I get my kids done? Do I just go to the local doctor and ask for the meningitis injections and what is the age limit on it, I also have two older boys (14 and 15) would they need it done too? Thanks for any help.

annaerb

If you see my post above all children upto the age of 19 have to have it. Ring yr local Doctor and ask them, it has to be done 3 times normally a week apart.

poppets

we went to our local health centre & asked how to register, fill out a couple of forms & make an appointment to see the nurse ($18) who should let you know of any injections needed. i think that once you are registered its cheaper to see the Drs than if you're not & you go down for an energency. I'd pop in & chat to your haelth centre to find out for sure though.

Alex

Hi,
I phoned the surgery and spoke to the nurse who was really helpful, and she does the jabs, we don't actually have to see a Doctor. She did say that some children can have really achy limbs afterwards, some so bad they are off school for a week !!! , but that is only a few cases.
I must admit I will be quizzing her when we go about the Hib injections because I didn't know about those ones either.( This site is great 'cos without it I would not have known to ask!)
Good luck with telling the boys they are gonna get injected !!!
Regards,
Alex

tom's mum

Hopefully I can help to clarify the situation regarding vaccinations here and in the UK. I was a health visitor in the UK and vaccinate children here in NZ. In the UK children are offered the following vaccinations:

2, 3 and 4 months: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Hib (DTaP/IPV/Hib) One injection
MenC One injection
Around 13 months old Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) One injection
3 years and 4 months to 5 years old Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio (dTaP/IPV or DTaP/IPV) One injection
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) One injection

13 to 18 years old Diphtheria, tetanus, polio (Td/IPV) One injection

In New Zealand children are offered:

6 weeks and 3 months: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio,
Hib/Hep B
Meningococcal B (MeNZB) vaccination Three injections.
At 5 months old they have: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio,
Hepatitis B (hepB)
MeNZB
At 10 months old they need the fourth MeNZB Vaccination.

If a child starts the MeNZB course over the age of 6 months they only require 3 vaccinations and not the fourth.

At 15 months they have: MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)
Hib vaccination.

At 4 years they have Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio,
MMR.

Please ask me any questions or visit the Immunisation Advisory Website at:
http://www.immune.org.nz/

Many thanks

Helen

annaerb

Also there is the dTap-IPV (adult Diphtheria - Tetanus - acellular Pertussis - Inactivated Polio Vaccine) at age 11 years.
You can now also have the chickenpox vaccine. My daughter got Chickenpox at the age of 14 and was so ill with it for about a month, if I had known about the vaccine I would have got this also.