PHARMAC widen access to ACWY vaccine

14 November 2019

PHARMAC widen access to ACWY vaccine

PHARMAC has announced the meningococcal ACWY vaccine will be available free from 1 December 2019 for young people in close living situations. The vaccination will be funded for an estimated 35,000 people, aged between 13 and 25, who live in boarding school hostels, tertiary education halls of residence, military barracks and prisons. After the first year of funding, free vaccinations will only be available to people entering their first year of living in such institutions.

We have asked PHARMAC for clarification as there appears to be a group of young people who are at risk who may NOT be eligible for the vaccine - those living in privately owned, shared flats or houses.

In addition, the meningococcal ACWY vaccine offers no protection against the most common strain of disease meningococcal B. 

This is our ultimate goal: protection for ALL, against ALL forms of meningococcal disease.

Read the PHARMAC statement here. 
Read the Meningitis Foundation's statement here.