On Tuesday, the federal government announced that starting next April, young people aged 14 to 19 will be given a free meningitis vaccine. It is expected that more than a million people will benefit within four years.
This free vaccine prevents meningitis in four types: a, C, W and Y. The vaccine will be added to the National Immunization Program (NIS), which is expected to cost A $52 million.
Minors between the ages of 14 and 16 will be vaccinated according to normal procedures. People between the ages of 15 and 19 will receive replacements through their general practitioner.
"We all expect that this measure will significantly improve the protection of young Australians from meningitis," Elder (Johnathan Iredell), director of infectious diseases at the Westminster Medical Institute, told the Sydney Morning Frontier.
He added that the government`s measures also showed that the consequences of W-type meningitis appeared to be more severe than any other type of meningitis.
Health Secretary Hunt (Greg Hunt) says meningococcal infections are rare but can be fatal. "the result is devastating for individuals and their families."
So far this year, 10 people have died of meningitis, including a 19-year-old college student. Last year, 28 Australians died, 21 of whom suffered from type A, C, W or Y meningitis, compared with 11 in 2016 and 12 in 2015.
Symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, stiff neck, joint pain, red-purple bruises or spots, disliking light, nausea and vomiting. If timely treatment is not available within 24 hours, life may be at risk.
The federal government is also under pressure to include a B-type meningitis vaccine in the free vaccine program. But the prime minister said the committee of experts had to be consulted before making the decision.
South Australia is currently the only state offering a free B-type meningitis vaccine.
