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 meningococcal outbreak in Northland?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Yes in their full context.Dr Shane Reti: What does he say to Shona Whitehead and the Hikurangi community north of Whangarei who fundraised $20000 to buy the meningitis vaccine for their ineligible five- to 12-year-old children?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The targeted vaccination campaign is designed to protect the whole community by containing the meningococcal W outbreak. There's a strong demand for this vaccine internationally and we're targeting those most at risk from the disease and those most at risk of spreading it. That is what a responsible public health response looks like. I do want to put on record my thanks to the clinicians and staff across Northland for their concerted efforts in making this meningococcal W vaccine campaign roll out.Dr Shane Reti: Does he encourage concerned Northland parents with five- to 12-year-old children to have the meningitis vaccine?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I can understand why people might want to vaccinate their children. That's fine. The advice that the Government received was clear—it's clinical advice—that the targeted vaccination campaign was the right approach to contain the community outbreak. With respect I do think the member needs to stop scaremongering on this issue. In his recent column in The Northern Advocate he claims the community outbreak in Northland was declared for all under-10-year-olds. He knows full well that there was no such age reference. The outbreak was declared for a region not an age group. As a doctor I would've expected the MP for Whangarei to be more responsible in his public comments. Instead he appears to be happy to play politics.Dr Shane Reti: Given he said in this House last month It is heartening that since the vaccination campaign began in December there has not been a single case of meningococcal W in Northland." will he now fund the vaccine for five- to 12-year-old children given that last week Northland had its first meningococcal W case?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: We have acted on clinical advice. What I will say is that I do think it's encouraging that there has been only one case of meningococcal W since the vaccination campaign started in December although as I previously said in the House that is no guarantee that there won't be any further cases. I would also note for the member and for the House that the most recent case was of a child who was too young to receive the vaccine highlighting the importance of a targeted campaign aimed like in the UK and like in Britain at the young adults who are most likely to spread the disease.Dr Shane Reti: Was Alexis Albert who succumbed ineligible for the meningococcal vaccine?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Is the case the member is referring to that of the child under the age eligible for the vaccine—Dr Shane Reti: The seven-year-old.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: —the seven-year-old who died before the campaign began before the outbreak was declared?Dr Shane Reti: Would she have been ineligible?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I would hope that given—I'm sorry; I'm responding to his questions as they arise—the campaign that's rolled out she would not have contracted the disease."