Vaccination against Meningococcal  disease started  in Northland today.

The region has been hard hit by a sudden outbreak of an aggressive new strain with three people dead from the disease this year.

Children from nine months to five years and Northland residents aged 13 to 20 can get the shot.

Northland DHB paediatrician Aisla Tuck told Larry Williams it has been a very busy day.

“We think around 1000 people in Northland have been immunized today, this program is going for another 16 days, so the Friday before Christmas. 

The program has gone well so far, although the families have had to wait a long time everyone has been really well behaved."

Children aged between nine months and five years, and teenagers are being targeted for vaccination after the Government last week announced the urgent programme to fight an outbreak of the virulent and deadly MenW strain in Northland.

“We need the public to understand this program is designed to control the outbreak in Northland, and we have targeted certain groups which are most at risk.”

LISTEN ABOVE AS AISLA TUCK SPEAKS TO LARRY WILLIAMS