New funding hope for vaccine against killer meningococcal disease

A costly vaccine against deadly meningococcal disease may finally be funded by the Federal Government as new data proves its effectiveness.

A CRUCIAL vaccine against deadly meningococcal disease is one step closer to be being federally funded, making it free for families currently paying up to $500 per child.

Bexsero, which protects against the most prevalent B strain of the infection which most commonly attacks children under five and 15-19 year olds, has been submitted to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee for the fourth time.

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Approval by the independent body is required before the Federal Government can add it to the National Immunisation Program.

Bexsero was last rejected in 2015 on grounds of cost-effectiveness as meningococcal was relatively rare, but with fresh pressure on the PBAC to “exercise discretion”, prevention advocates are hopeful of a positive outcome.

Immunisation crusader Professor Robert Booy.

Meningococcal is on the rise and infectious diseases expert Professor Robert Booy said the PBAC had to consider not only the number of lives saved but the ongoing costs to the health and welfare systems of caring for survivors, who can lose limbs, go blind, deaf and suffer brain damage.

“The B strain is at least half of the total meningococcal burden (other strains are A, C, W, Y), and the PBAC must be more open to supporting vaccines and exercising discretion,” Prof Booy said.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has agreed to fund Bexsero once approved.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has promised to fund the B vaccine once it meets with mandatory PBAC approval.

A spokesperson for manufacturer GSK said it had tightened its submission, including new data on the vaccine’s proven effectiveness overseas.

A decision will be handed down by the PBAC in November.

There have been more than 1400 cases of meningococcal in Australia in the past six years, with 276 cases in 2018, according to government data.

Early symptoms include headache, fever, vomiting, and neck stiffness.