Kiwi babies to get TB vaccine after global shortage
Kiwi babies will again be protected from some of the life-threatening complications associated with severe forms of tuberculosis with a new supply of the vaccine available.
A worldwide shortage of the Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine, caused by delays at the manufacturing facility, meant it had not been available in New Zealand for two years.
Pharmac director of operations Lisa Williams said 35,000 doses of the vaccine had recently arrived in the country and had been distributed throughout.
Today the Auckland Regional Public Health Service will run its first vaccination clinic since the global shortage put the programme on hold in May 2016.
Eight-week-old Bryan Wang was the first Auckland baby to receive the BCG vaccine yesterday.
Mother Huie Chen told the she asked about the vaccination when her son was born but was told there was still none in the country.
So, as soon as she heard new stock was coming in, she jumped online to register.
The decision to vaccinate was easy.
“Our family is from China . . . China is a high risk country so I think it’s better that he get vaccinated.” Chen said they planned to visit family in China and wanted to make sure their baby was as safe as possible.
The vaccine would not prevent a person from becoming infected, rather it protected children from developing severe forms of the disease such as meningeal tuberculosis (which affects the brain) or miliary tuberculosis (which is spread throughout the body).
Medical Officer of Health Dr Lavinia Perumal said more than 2000 parents had been in touch wanting the vaccine for their child since news of the new batch.
But, she said, the vaccine was only necessary for babies at high risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB) and babies under 6 months old would be given priority.
For more information go to health.govt.nz