More than 5000 Northland children and teenagers have been vaccinated against the new W strain of meningococcal disease.
More than 5000 Northland children and teenagers have been vaccinated against the new W strain of meningococcal disease. Photo: Andrey Popov 123RF
That's a quarter of the number that Northland Health aims to immunise before 21 December.
The disease has killed three people in the region in recent months.
Free emergency vaccination clinics opened last Wednesday in Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Whangarēi.
Clinics are also running in smaller centres this week - in Kaikohe yesterday, Kaeo today, Dargaville tomorrow and Friday, and Taipa on Saturday.
The vaccine's in short supply but the health board has 25,000 doses in stock for the highest-risk age groups: the under five's and 13 to 19-year-olds.
GP's in Northland have waiting-lists to vaccinate five to 12-year-olds who don't qualify for free shots.
But they say they can only get hold of small quantities and can't predict when they'll come in.