As universities and polytechs start to wind down for the year, there are fresh calls for young people to get vaccinated against meningococcal disease.
The latest figures show cases are up by 60 percent from last year, with many people having no protection against the deadly disease.
Claire and Gerard Rushton's daughter Courtenay thought she had a simple virus during a holiday in 2014. The 16-year-old was suddenly rushed to the hospital.
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"[They] called us into a room and said she's dying before our eyes, and we don't know what's causing it," said Courtenay's father, Gerard.
Five days later, Courtenay was dead.
Alarmingly, the Rushtons thought their daughter was fully protected.
She had been immunised against meningococcal B, which accounts for more than 50 percent of all cases.
However, a separate vaccination is needed to protect against different strains of the disease.
"We didn't realise there are other strains that you have to ask and pay for," said Courtenay's mother, Claire.
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A rise in recent cases across New Zealand has prompted a call for those heading to boarding school or university to get fully vaccinated and to be aware of the symptoms.
"It's also important to get to the parents because they're the ones that will protect their children by investing in the vaccine and investing in their health," said Meningococcal Foundation director, Andrea Brady.
Young adults are at most risk, sharing living environments like student halls and group flats.
However, waiting until the new university year begins is too late.
"It takes a couple of weeks for the vaccine to work, which is why we'd really like people to have the vaccine ideally before they get to Dunedin so they've got optimal levels of protection once they're here," said Otago University student health nurse, Melanie Philip.
That can take up to three shots, costing a few hundred dollars.
A small price to pay to protect against a disease that can kill.
Newshub.
