Battling the Big B: Hepatitis B in New Zealand

Award in History 2000, to research and write the book. (Department of Internal Affairs) and assistance from the Hepatitis Foundation.

After a number of children were identified as Hepatitis B carriers, Sandy Milne, Head of the Whakatane Hospital laboratory, informed the Department of Health (now the Ministry), politicians and the media. He was met with scepticism and no response to his request for the Government to urgently commence screening and vaccination. After a longstanding battle, Sandy set up the Hepatitis Foundation and introduced screening and vaccination into schools before the Government’s vaccination programme started.