Coroner recommends expansion of meningococcal vaccination program

A coroner has recommended the state’s free meningococcal vaccination program be extended to include the B strain of the disease.

THE coroner investigating the death of Hobart teenager Sarah Rose Beltz has recommended the state’s free vaccination program be extended to include protection against meningococcal B.

Sarah died on July 12 last year aged 16 after contracting meningococcal disease.

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Coroner Simon Cooper found she was not protected against meningococcal as she was away from school the day vaccination against strains A, C, W and Y was administered.

“Had she [received the immunisation] undoubtedly it would have saved her life,” Mr Cooper said.

Sarah Rose Beltz died from meningococcal disease on July 12 last year.

Sarah was rushed to Hobart Private Hospital “as soon it was clear her symptoms were serious”, Mr Cooper said. She was then transferred to the Royal Hobart Hospital’s emergency department.

“As soon as she arrived at the [emergency department] Sarah was immediately assessed and treatment commenced straight away,” Mr Cooper said.

“However, nothing could be done for Sarah and she passed away within a very short time.”

She died of septic shock, Mr Cooper said.

Mr Cooper recommended all eligible Tasmanians receive the free vaccine against meningococcal strains A, C, W and Y, and that the program be extended to include protection against meningococcal B.

“The best protection against meningococcal, indeed virtually the only protection, is

immunisation,” Mr Cooper said.

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Tasmanian Health Service public health director Mark Veitch on Tuesday noted immunisation against meningococcal B would not have saved Sarah, who died after contracting the W strain.

“Further, no lives would have been saved in Tasmania over the past 10 years by a childhood and adolescent meningococcal B immunisation program,” Dr Veitch said.

“The Tasmanian Government supports the national evidence-based process by which vaccines, including meningococcal B vaccine, are subject to expert evaluation to ensure they are safe, effective, and cost-effective.”

The State Government made available free A, C, W and Y vaccines to all Tasmanians aged six to 20 after an outbreak of four cases of W strain in suburban Hobart last year.

About 96,000 people had received the free immunisation as of February.

It is still available to Tasmanians born after August 1997 from GPs.

PRAISE FOR MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINATION PROGRAM

“The Director of Public Health and colleagues offer their sympathy to the Beltz family and to those affected by meningococcal disease,” Dr Veitch said.