[Island Jon]

Meningitis and pneumonia thrive: children need three meningitis jabs, and they hurt.

Well, guys, after reading the Guardian article (and as someone who's prone to disease), I must ask, how real is the threat of getting any of this in New Zealand? Over here, only the flu and West Nile are a real problem. But meningitis and pneumonia are some rather nasty bugs. I hear only little kids get this, but I've known of outbreaks in unis and other places. What's the 411 on that? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

p.s. If you haven't, check the whole article here (http://www.guardianabroad.co.uk/diaries/article/110). Rather informative.

[Debbie P.]

Well, better the jabs than the disease, I would have thought :) Some of that article made me laugh (and I'm sure bits of it are true), but I thought the whinge about innoculations was getting a bit OTT. The whole thing was probably a little tongue-in-cheek.

I think the risk of getting either disease is similar to the UK - occasional outbreaks in schools and unis, but they are only occasional and not always major, e.g. one of our new students has been diagnosed with meningitis but she's recovering well and there haven't been any other cases at the Uni so far.

What about TB in NZ? That's the one that really worries me, and it's starting to make a comeback in the UK.

[wilson182]

My daughter had the three jabs, and she's not the bravest kid. She didnt complain of them hurting any more than the hep b jabs she had to have. TBH I havent heard much about pneumonia thriving here (would this be something to do with the cold houses though), and I agree with Debbie - I would rather she had the jabs than the disease, so I was happy with the innoculation program. I personally think its good that NZ recognised they have a problem and wanted to put something in place. I know TB is something they are screening for in the immigration medicals, Do they do that in the UK??