Nine To Noon Calls for wider access to free meningitis vaccine for teens
Mar 16, 2026
Gerard Rushton, campaigner and head of the Meningitis Foundation who lost his daughter to meningitis, calls for wider funded meningococcal vaccination for students. He outlines current funding gaps and pushes for a Year 11 school-based program. He discusses why halls-only eligibility is unfair, highlights higher risks for Māori and Pasifika, and stresses how fast meningitis can strike.
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Father's Personal Loss Drives Vaccination Campaign
- Gerard Rushton lost his 16-year-old daughter Courtney to meningitis in 2014 and now leads the Meningitis Foundation advocating policy change.
- He links recent unrelated Dunedin student cases to broader risks and uses his daughter's death to push for wider school-based vaccination.
Funding Excludes Many At-Risk Student Living Situations
- Current funded criteria cover those entering student college accommodation but exclude flatting or other common student living situations.
- Rushton argues this creates confusion and discrimination because students mix socially regardless of housing.
Push For School Based Vaccination At Age 16
- Advocate for a school-based vaccination program so parents can ensure students are protected before leaving home.
- Rushton urges offering free vaccines around age 16 to reach students while still in parental care.