A pilot vaccination campaign for group B meningococcal disease has been delayed to 2004, the Health Ministry said today.

Meningococcal vaccine strategy director Jane O'Hallahan said the timetable had been set after discussions with California-based manufacturer Chiron Corporation.

Chiron was having trouble producing the vaccine in the quantities required, she said.

Chiron now anticipated the vaccine would be ready for the south Auckland pilot training scheme by January 2004, Dr O'Hallahan said.

"This means that we should be able to start the nationwide roll-out of the vaccine from June 2004," she said.

The ministry planned to immunise those under 20 with the vaccine, to help combat the disease.

It had initially been hoped to trial the vaccine late next year, with the national roll-out from April 2004.

The delay was disappointing, but had been expected, Dr O'Hallahan said.

Extra time had been spent upscaling the vaccine to produce the large amounts required, Dr O'Hallahan said.

Pure, sterile and consistent quantities were needed for the trial, which will use small batches of high quality vaccine.

Since 1991, more than 4700 New Zealanders have contracted the disease; 200 have died, and hundreds left seriously disabled.

Last year 26 people died of the disease.

The Government is spending up to $200 million to develop a vaccine for the strain of the disease that is specific to New Zealand.

- NZPA

Herald feature: Health