Hepatitis protection ‘denied’

Press, 28 December 1988, Page 4

Hepatitis protection ‘denied’

PA Wellington Large numbers of children at greatest risk of contracting hepatitis B — Maori and Pacific Islanders — are being denied protection, says an immunisation researcher, Sandy Milne. Mr Milne, director of Whakatane Hospital’s hepatitis research unit, said national blood tests in pre-school children who had had three of four doses of a low-dose hepatitis B vaccine showed 98 per cent had, developed immunity. The study, of 1225 four-year-old children from 39 locations, confirmed the

wisdom of the Health Department in adopting an affordable low-dose strategy, pioneered by the Whakatane unit. Mr Milne said that while he was pleased with the results he had two main concerns about the programme. “While over 70 per cent of eligible children have been vaccinated, it appears that large numbers of the children at greatest risk — Maori and Pacific Islanders — are being denied protection. “I am not sure if the reason is hardship, laziness or unjustified fears of the vaccine, but this is

another example of the inverse-care law where the children who need help the most get help the least, or not at all.” Mr Milne said he wished parents would “do their duty.” It was hard to believe the problem could be lack of awareness of the department’s programme to immunise all pre-schoolers. Mr Milne said he was also concerned that doctors and other health professionals might assume that because low doses of plasma-derived vaccine worked superbly, all syn-

thetic vaccines would work as well. “Large numbers of children are being vaccinated with doses of these new vaccines which are far too low for safety.” In particular, doctors had been warned in a “Medical Journal” letter they should not use the Smith, Kline and French vaccine in less than recommended doses. . Mr Milne said many children in New Zealand had been given doses as low as one-tenth of that recommended. Testing these children was important to reveal in

whom the low-dose strategy had failed. Anyone seeking further information on affordable low-dose hepatitis B vaccine could write to the Whakatane unit — otherwise they should stick to full doses. Mr Milne said he continued to make strenuous pleas to the Health Department and Foreign Affairs Ministry asking that New Zealand help poorer children in the Pacific Islands. This was where New Zealand could help or lead the world, with great effect.