From secondary prevention to primary prevention: a unique strategy that gives hope to a country ravaged by meningococcal disease

New Zealand has been affected by an epidemic of group B meningococcal disease dominated by a strain defined as, B:4:P1.7b,4. Over 5550 cases and 222 deaths have been reported since 1991 in a population of 4 million people.Meningococcal disease cases notified on EpiServ database operated by Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited through to 30 September 2004. Through the collaborative efforts of a government agency, vaccine company, university and laboratory institute, clinical trials of the Chiron produced outer membrane vesicle (OMV) strain-specific MeNZB vaccine were run in rapid succession. The delivery of MeNZB will be New Zealand's largest immunisation programme with three doses given at 6-week intervals to over 1 million people aged 6 weeks-19 year olds inclusive. Planning, co-ordinating and delivering the immunisation programme is a challenging project for the New Zealand Health Sector.