On May 11, Victorian Health Minister Harriet Shing announced the roll-out of the life-saving vaccines to school and council immunisation programs, GPs, pharmacies and Aboriginal health services, starting January 1, 2027.
While families currently face a $250 out-of-pocket expense for private vaccination through GPs, this burden will be lifted for eligible students.
Meningococcal disease is a dangerous infection that typically leads to brain inflammation (meningitis) and can progress to life-threatening blood poisoning (sepsis).
Despite prompt medical care, this serious disease claims the lives of five to 10 per cent of patients.
According to the Australian Immunisation Handbook, children and teenagers face the greatest risk of contracting this disease, making vaccination during these years essential.
In Australia, there are two different vaccines against meningococcal disease ‒ the meningococcal B vaccine and the meningococcal ACWY vaccines.
Victoria now joins South Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland in offering free meningococcal B vaccination programs, ensuring Year 10 students across these states receive equal protection.
The National Immunisation Program also offers free meningococcal ACWY vaccines to children and young adults under 20 which protect against the four strains of the disease.
This addition means Victorian Year 10 students will have protection against five different meningococcal strains during the most vulnerable period of their lives.
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