The Meningitis Foundation is pushing for a potentially life-saving meningitis vaccine to be free for all 16-year-olds, urging the Government to extend the age band of those who qualify for it on the national immunisation schedule. 
Claire and Gerard Rushton ​brought a 6357-signature petition on behalf of the Meningitis Foundation to Parliament recently, calling for free vaccines for preventable forms of meningococcal disease for all students in Year 11. The Rushtons tragically lost their daughter Courtenay to meningitis when she was just 16. 
It comes on top of news that about $1.6 million worth of meningitis vaccines are set to expire. 
Claire Rushton joined Simon Barnett and James Daniels to discuss why a wider vaccination programme is desperately needed.  
LISTEN ABOVE
www.meningitis.org.nz