Around 50 parents of children affected by the dangerous pneumococcal disease as well as their supporters marched in silent protest on Wednesday on parliament to push politicians towards funding a vaccine for the deadly disease.
Pneumococcal disease causes meningitis. While the vaccine, Prevenar, against the disease is free in Australia, New Zealanders pay about $400 for the three-stage injections.The marchers presented United Future MP Peter Dunne with a letter and placed 150 dolls on the grounds of parliament to represent the young children who would catch the disease this year.
March organiser Fiona Colbert has asserted that the campaign for free vaccine programme for those under two would be successful with the Ministry of Health due to make a decision on the vaccine by October.
