PhD Thesis - ResearchSpace@Auckland - The University of Auckland

only company producing a vaccine suitable for children under two was Connaught
Serum Laboratories, the Canadian vaccine manufacturing company which was also
based in the United States. Menomune A was quickly registered in New Zealand and
a campaign prepared to immunise approximately 150,000 children from three months
of age to Form 2 (aged 12). The programme commenced on 26 May 1987. Booster
doses were to be given to children over three months and under two, all other children
received one dose only. The actual vaccine batches sent to New Zealand had been
tested by the manufacturer but not by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), nor
were they tested when they reached New Zealand as there were no facilities for doing
so. 139 Nevertheless, as the vaccine had been approved by the FDA for use in the
United States and Canada as well as several other countries, the Health Department
felt confident of its safety. 140
The pupils at Drury Primary School were immunised on 29 June 1987 near the end of
the campaign. As the vaccine had been stored incorrectly (the refrigerator fuse had
blown), more vaccine had to be sent for and pupils had to wait about an hour for their
injections. Subsequently there were many reports of reactions that included nausea,
vomiting and fainting. Some children also complained of headaches, a stiff neck and
difficulty in limb movement. The South Auckland Medical Officer for Health, Dr
Allan Cowan dismissed these symptoms as vaccine reactions, pointing out that it was
a ‘psychological thing. From what I can understand, the youngsters got all worked
up’. 141 Up to this point about 80 to 90 reactions had been reported to District Health
Officers. 142 Intense media coverage, much of it negative, and similar results at other
schools soon forced the Department to review its decision of dismissing these
reactions as a hysterical response.
Unfortunately for the Department, its handling of this crisis did nothing to allay
parental anxieties. It had still been adhering to the practice of giving parents little
information with regard to immunisation; its leaflet to accompany this campaign was,
139
Meningococcal Meningitis Immunisation Campaign in Auckland 1987’, ABQU 632 W4415/918
67372 144/39, ANZ, Wellington. The FDA had reviewed batch documentation and analytical results
produced by Connaught.
140
ibid.
141
NZH, 1 July 1987.
142
Meningococcal Meningitis Immunisation Campaign in Auckland 1987’, ABQU 632 W4415/918
67372 144/39, ANZ, Wellington.
261