Thursday 7 April, 2005
Nurses Answer the Call for Southland School-Based Meningococcal B Campaign
Southland nurses have responded positively to the call to become part of Southland’s Meningococcal B Vaccination
campaign, with 50 applications received and expressions of interest continuing to flow in.
Southland District Health Board’s (SDHB) Meningococcal Vaccination Strategy (MVS) Project Manager Judi Dennis said she
was thrilled with the response to the campaign and the interest shown by nurses.
“It is fantastic to see so many nurses putting their hands up to help us roll-out this important public health
campaign,” Mrs Dennis said.
A total of 63 position descriptions were sent out and applications closed on Wednesday 6 April. Mrs Dennis said she was
now keen to process applications as quickly as possible so nurses can begin training.
The national meningococcal B vaccination campaign will be launched in Southland on 30 May 05 to immunise around 30,000
babies, children and young people against New Zealand's epidemic meningococcal B disease.
The programme will be delivered through two key campaigns - the school-based campaign (where school children will be
vaccinated at school) and the primary care campaign (where babies, pre-schoolers, and out-of-school young people aged up
to 20 will be vaccinated at their family doctor or other primary care provider).
Nurses are needed for the school-based programme, which will see teams of nurses visiting schools to vaccinate a total
of 19,000 school-based children.
ENDS