Your meningococcal vaccination questions answered

WHO can get the free meningococcal vaccination? When can they be vaccinated? Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about the program and what you should do to deal with meningococcal.

HERE are the answers to frequently asked questions about the meningococcal vaccination program and what you should do to deal with meningococcal.

Q: Who can get the free shot?

A: All Tasmanians born after August 1, 1997 are eligible. Babies must be six weeks old to be vaccinated.

Q: What strains will the free shot protect against?

A: The vaccination will cover the A, C, W and Y strains of the disease.

Q: Why not the B strain?

A: Tasmania’s rate of the B strain is not above the national rate. Health authorities will monitor its prevalence after one case in the state this year. South Australia made the vaccination free because of its high rate of strain B. In Tasmania, it will cost up to $300.

Q: When can my child be vaccinated?

A: Preparations to extend the program are expected to take a week or more. More information will be provided by the Public Health Services.

Q: What about the over-21s?

A: The highest risk groups — young children and teenagers — are covered by the program. Older Tasmanians can also contract the disease and need to stay vigilant. The ACWY vaccine will cost $60-70.

Q: Should kids share personal items such as drink bottles?

A: Never a great idea but meningococcal bacteria are not easily spread by sharing drinks, food or cigarettes. Bacteria do not survive well outside the human body and are spread in secretions of the throat and nose, more likely to happen among people with close, regular and prolonged contact such as kissing.

SOURCE: Tasmania Public Health Services

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Bastian Seidel talks about how to deal with meningococcal.

1 CONSULT YOUR GP

“Now is not the time for generalised advice. The appropriate advice really is to seek specific information from your usual GP to see what vaccinations would be appropriate for you.

“The most important thing people can do right now is to contact their usual GP to really ask about specific, individual advice on how they can protect themselves and whether a vaccination is the appropriate way for them.”

2 GET VACCINATED

“There often is no one size fits all approach, the best way to [protect] yourself from suffering from meningococcal disease is to have the vaccinations.

“There are different types of vaccinations available, and some people might have already had one vaccination, other people might not have had the vaccination.

“Vaccinations are available over the age of six weeks … there are various vaccines available, there are various schedules available, the schedule depends on the age of the person as well.

“It’s very different for a six-year-old compared to a 60-year-old person.

“[Once you have a prescription,] the vaccinations, I believe, are still very much available in Tasmania from the chemist.”

3 DON’T PANIC

“There is no need to panic, but it is absolutely appropriate for communities to seek advice.”