Majority of preschoolers still at risk of meningococcal B after free ‘catch up’ immunisation programme ends
ANALYSIS/OPINION – 21 October, 2025
More than 200,000 toddlers and preschoolers are still not fully immunised against deadly meningococcal B after a two year free “catch up” immunisation programme has ended.
This means most children in early childhood education are not immune to the devastating disease.
The Office of Early Childhood Education is calling on Health New Zealand to extend the catch up immunisation programme to improve vaccination coverage rates of young children.
In March 2023, Bexsero, a vaccine against the most common type of meningococcal disease, was added to the childhood immunisation schedule, meaning pēpi could receive a full course (three doses) of the inoculation for free.
At the same time, Health New Zealand launched a “catch up” programme for tamariki aged 1 to 4 (inclusive). This allowed all preschool children to access a full course of the immunisation for free before August 31, 2025.
Data obtained by the Office of Early Childhood Education shows that of the more than 250,000 eligible children, just 8936 (less than 5%) were fully vaccinated with Bexsero by the end of the catch up programme.
Children need three doses of the vaccine to be considered immune to the bacteria that causes meningococcal B. However, the majority of children received just one or two doses.
More than a third of cases (15 out of 43) of meningococcal diagnosed in Aotearoa last year were in children aged younger than 5.
The vast majority of the tamariki were Māori (12 out of 15).
Now that the catch up programme is over, parents who want their children to be vaccinated with Bexsero (including those with 1 to 4 year olds who received one or two free doses) will have to pay $150 per dose.
Meningococcal disease can cause two illnesses – meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord) and septicaemia (blood poisoning). About 1 in 10 cases of the disease are fatal and 1 in 5 survivors are left permanently disabled due to amputation of limbs, blindness or brain damage.
Meningococcal can be caused by several different types of bacteria, the most common being group B. Bexsero protects against group B but not other types of meningococcal.
The disease is spread through close and prolonged contact with respiratory droplets from an infected person’s nose and throat, such as through coughing, or sharing saliva via drinks, food, and utensils.
Teachers and educator information and guidance:
Vaccination is a key way to protect the health of children in early childhood education (ECE) settings. Higher immunisation rates reflect New Zealand’s success in safeguarding young children’s health.
There are important issues to consider—both at the individual level for each child, in supporting families to make informed decisions, and in protecting the wellbeing of other children, staff, and the wider ECE community. Keep reading to find out more.
