PhD Thesis - ResearchSpace@Auckland - The University of Auckland

immunisation, particularly after some of the earlier inactivated vaccines had
demonstrated high reaction rates. 31 By 1968 the Ministry of Health felt confident
enough to go ahead with a live attenuated vaccine which they felt minimised side-
effects and gave long-term immunity. The vaccine made by Burroughs-Wellcome,
called Wellcovax, was the vaccine of choice. Public acceptance was initially high,
with approximately 800,000 doses administered in the first year. 32 Unfortunately, the
confidence exhibited by the Ministry of Health was misplaced, as the vaccine had to
be recalled after the death of a baby from encephalitis and complications in two other
children. 33 Further cases of measles encephalitis brought on by the vaccine were
reported in the following weeks. 34 The immunisation programme was continued
using the Glaxo Laboratories vaccine made from a different strain but due to the
shortage in supply it was restricted to certain categories of susceptible children. 35
This had implications for the New Zealand measles vaccine programme as the
Department of Health had chosen to use Wellcovax.
In New Zealand the Epidemiology Advisory Committee (EAC) had been considering
the introduction of the measles vaccine since 1963, but, like Britain, did not feel able
to recommend a vaccine that it did not feel was entirely proven to its satisfaction. In
March 1967 the EAC had suggested that children at special risk should be immunised
by their family doctor if it was deemed necessary, although it was still not prepared to
recommend the vaccine for general use. 36 The ‘cautious approach’ adopted by the
EAC was felt to be justified until trials had determined the safety of both live and
killed vaccines. Therefore it was not until March 1968 that the EAC felt able to
recommend general use of the measles vaccine. 37
31 ibid.
32 A. Cliff, P. Haggett, M. Smallman-Raynor, Measles. A Historical Geography, p.253.
33 The Times, 19 March 1969. p.3. Times Digital Archive 1785-1985.
http://web6.infotrac.galegroup.com.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/itw/infomark/...
34 G. E. Godber to D. P. Kennedy, 19 May 1969, H1 144/18 34759 Sera and Vaccines: Measles
Vaccine 1968-9, Archives New Zealand (ANZ), Wellington.
35 The Times, 12 June 1969, p.1. Times Digital Archive 1785-1985. Susceptible children aged between
4 and 7 and those aged between one to seven who were in a day nursery or living in ‘residential
establishments’ were eligible for immunisation.
36 ‘Measles Vaccination Programme’ BAAK A358 127b, Measles 1939-78, ANZ, Auckland. Some of
these children may not have had a family doctor and therefore no access to the vaccine.
37 C. N. Derek Taylor, ‘Measles Vaccination’ NZMJ, 68, 168, p.126.
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