8. Question No. 8—HealthDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 8—Health8. Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statements and actions around the Northland meningococcal outbreak and vaccination campaign?SPEAKER: Well close enough anyway.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): In particular I stand by my statements that the targeted meningococcal vaccination programme in Northland followed international practice and has proved successful in its aim of preventing the spread of meningococcal W in Northland with only one case recorded since the campaign was rolled out that being of a child who was too young to receive the vaccine. So the answer to the member's question is yes.Dr Shane Reti: Did the Minister say yesterday Around the time Pharmac secured the vaccine for the targeted vaccination programme"—which was in November last year—"I was made aware by the Director-General of Health that an additional vaccine was available" in direct contrast to what he said to TV ONE on Friday?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The member will probably know that the director-general advised me that he was able to source additional vaccines for the targeted programme. He didn't specify a number.Dr Shane Reti: Do the minutes of the expert meeting on 8 November also recommend possibly vaccinating all under-20-year-olds in Northland?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I have gone back and looked at those expert recommendations from medical experts. They recommend first and foremost a targeted campaign but they do list that possibility.Dr Shane Reti: If the experts met and made their recommendations on 8 November but Pharmac only confirmed the 30000 extra vaccines on 9 November was the expert group ever reconvened and told that 30000 extra vaccines were available?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I am reliant on the expert advice that I receive. The advice I've received is that the director-general took the decision to have a targeted campaign because one of the factors involved was making sure that there were sufficient people clinically trained to deliver the vaccinations and that one of the most important things to do was to disrupt the spread. That meant focusing nearly and squarely on the teenagers who were the most likely to be the vectors of the disease and then secondarily focusing on infants and young children who are most likely to be affected by the disease. By all accounts to date it has been a very successful campaign and I guess that is why it's important to rely on expert medical advice.Dr Shane Reti: Isn't it true that we don't know if the extra 30000 Pfizer vaccines would've protected the seven-month-old child who caught meningitis a few months ago but didn't she at least deserve a chance?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: At the time the campaign rolled out that vaccine I'm advised was not approved for vaccination of children of that age. That only happened subsequently.Dr Shane Reti: See you tomorrow—you'll correct that.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: It's true.Dr Shane Reti: No it's not. They use it in Australia.SPEAKER: Question No. 9—the Hon Paula Bennett.Hon Paula Bennett: My question is to the Minister of State Services. Does he—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! Both members will stand and apologise.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I withdraw and apologise.Dr Shane Reti: I withdraw and apologise."