Queensland to offer free Meningococcal B vaccine months after Bella Fidler’s death

Queensland woman Bella Fidler was enjoying a girls trip overseas when things went horribly wrong. Now, her family has helped make a huge change.

Bella Fidler died from the Meningococcal B strain of meningitis. Picture: Meningitis Centre Australia

Months after the death of their 23-year-old daughter, a Queensland couple’s call for change has been answered, with the state government making the meningococcal B vaccine available for free.

Blair and Jodie Fidler lost their daughter, Bella, to meningococcal B last December, less than 24 hours after she was admitted to hospital.

On Friday, the government announced the vaccine will be made available for free to children under the age of two and teenagers aged 15 to 19, under routine childhood and school immunisation programs.

“Jodie and Blair Fidler didn’t know their beautiful daughter Bella wasn’t protected from meningococcal B through the existing school vaccination program, which only covers the A, C, W and Y strains,” said Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, who explained she “had” to act “after hearing the stories of heartbroken Queensland families”.

“It is just amazing that Bella’s family has been able to channel their grief into advocacy for something that will undoubtedly save Queensland lives.”

Bella Fidler died from the Meningococcal B strain of meningitis. Picture: Meningitis Centre Australia

The vaccine, which is currently optional and costs $100, will be made available for free from 2024.

Mr and Ms Fidler had met with the state government in April, four months after their daughter returned from a girls’ trip to Indonesia and complained of having a temperature.

She was later rushed to hospital in Tugun, on the Gold Coast, with flu-like symptoms.

“Once there, she rapidly became critically ill, and the doctors eventually diagnosed her with bacterial meningitis,” Mr and Ms Fidler previously wrote in a piece for the Meningitis Centre Australia.

“Within hours our lives were shattered by the devastating news that Bella had suffered extensive brain damage and was not expected to survive.

“Tragically, Bella never got to attend her graduation or see Christmas 2022, and these dreams will never be realised.”

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said while meningococcal B is “rare it can be very dangerous”.

Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria from the nose or throat invading the body and can cause severe scarring, loss of limbs, brain damage and death.

“We know the meningococcal B strain can be lethal and – if a young person is lucky enough to survive the disease – it’s likely they will develop permanent and sometimes devastating complications,” said Ms Fentiman.

Mr Fidler said he was “shocked” to discover meningococcal B was not part of the national immunisation program following his daugher’s death.

“It is very expensive and many families can’t afford it, so that’s exactly why we’re asking the Queensland government to put this on the schedule,” he told Sunrise in July.

Bella Fidler had returned from a girls’ trip in Indonesia when she fell ill. Picture: Meningitis Centre Australia.

“Hopefully, we can avoid this situation for other families in future.”

The Immunisation Coalition welcomed the introduction of the routine Meningococcal B vaccination., after advocating for it for over 10 years.

“The routine vaccination of children and teenagers against Meningococcal B can prevent both death and severe disability,” Professor Robert Booy said in a media statement.

So far this year, Queensland has recorded 20 cases of Meningococcal B, following 26 cases in 2022.