Hepatitis Vaccine A.i.d.s. Rumour ‘almost... (Press, 21 April 1988)

On 21 April 1988, Dr George Salmond, the Director-General of Health in New Zealand, condemned spreading rumours that pre-schoolers vaccinated against hepatitis B could contract A.I.D.S. as "completely irresponsible" and "almost criminal." These allegations threaten the success of the Health Department's immunisation programme, which is vital for public health, according to Dr Salmond. He urged those disseminating such misinformation to carefully consider the potential health implications of their claims on the broader community. In Nelson, concerns arising from these unfounded rumours led some parents to seek A.I.D.S. tests for their children. Dr Jim Roxburgh, the Medical Officer of Health in the region, indicated there seemed to be an organised campaign against vaccination efforts, with tactics that he described as "beyond contempt." He noted that some parents were experiencing extreme anxiety, with many women in distress over the possibility that their children might have been exposed to A.I.D.S. Due to these fears, some parents were difficult to reassure despite the unnecessary nature of such testing. Dr Salmond assured the public about the safety of the Merck, Sharp and Dohme vaccine, which had previously been administered to five million people in 46 countries without serious problems. The plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine consists of purified protein particles from the virus's surface, obtained from the blood of chronically infected carriers who are otherwise healthy. He explained that the concerns regarding A.I.D.S. stemmed from the fact that social groups susceptible to hepatitis B often exhibited a higher prevalence of H.I.V., the virus associated with A.I.D.S. This led to fears that H.I.V. could contaminate the hepatitis vaccine. However, extensive expert analysis and careful reviews have consistently affirmed the vaccine's safety, as recognised by global health authorities including the World Health Organisation and the U.S. Centre for Disease Control. Dr Salmond clarified that the blood used for the vaccine comes from healthy hepatitis B carriers, with stringent testing conducted for various infections, including H.I.V. Additional precautions involve excluding high-risk groups, such as intravenous drug users and men known to be practising homosexuals, from donating blood. Each vaccine batch undergoes rigorous testing on animals prone to hepatitis B to ensure both its effectiveness and safety. He stated that against all available scientific evidence and facts, it is irresponsible and "almost criminal" to propagate these recent allegations in New Zealand. The government is taking these concerns seriously and will continue to promote public understanding and confidence in the immunisation programme.

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