The Queensland Government is investing $90 million over three years to rollout around 450,000 free potentially lifesaving meningococcal B (MenB) vaccines for infants, children and adolescents.
Last year, Queensland recorded 36 cases of meningococcal B disease and two cases have been recorded this year to date.
This serious infection can lead to complications from invasive meningococcal disease which can cause significant illness, disability, and death.
Distribution of these vaccines is underway to vaccination providers to manage the rollout of the new program.
Year 10 students are among the first to receive the vaccine through scheduled Queensland School Immunisation Program visits.
All infants and children under two, and adolescents aged 15 to 19, can now access the vaccine, in line with the Queensland Government’s commitment to implement the program in the first quarter of 2024.
This builds upon the existing program offering the meningococcal ACWY vaccine, providing even broader protection.
The state-funded MenB program will be delivered through registered vaccination service providers including general practitioners, community vaccination clinics, pharmacies, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services.
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said these vaccines will save lives.
“As Queensland families face tough decisions as a result of national cost of living pressures, the Queensland Government is ensuring the health of our future generations is not being compromised as a result.”
Minister for Health Shannon Fentiman said, “We know the meningococcal B strain can progress rapidly and cause serious disability or death.
“The health of Queenslanders is our top priority and this investment will ensure nearly half a million infants, children and adolescents will be eligible to receive the MenB vaccine this year for free.
“I would like to thank the brave parents who tirelessly advocated for this program after experiencing unimaginable loss.
“Their courage and determination have directly resulted in this lifesaving initiative.”
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said he encourages all parents with eligible children to take the opportunity to vaccinate their child against all vaccine-preventable strains of meningococcal – A, B, C, W and Y.
Caption: Deputy Premier Cameron Dick and Minister for Health Shannon Fentiman at Browns Plains State High School, one of the first schools in the state to provide students with the MenB vaccine
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