Increase in requests for vaccinations against meningococcal disease

CLINICS across the state have been flooded with calls about meningococcal vaccines after health officials confirmed a second case of the potentially deadly disease on the weekend.

See your doctor to discuss vaccination against meningococcal.

CLINICS across the state have been flooded with phone calls about meningococcal vaccines after health officials confirmed a second case of the potentially deadly disease.

A 20-year-old man remained in a stable condition at the Royal Hobart Hospital yesterday after the acute bacterial infection was detected during tests on Saturday.

His case follows the death of 16-year-old Hobart girl Sarah Rose Beltz from meningococcal disease on Thursday. It is not believed the two cases are linked.

National president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Bastian Seidel said his Huon Valley clinic received seven calls from people asking about vaccinations between 8am and 9.30am yesterday.

“It is my full expectation that most GP practices will be getting plenty of calls from parents that are very concerned,” he said.

“We’ve spoken with local pharmacists to make sure all the vaccinations are stocked.”

There are two vaccines on the market which protect people from the disease, one against meningococcal A, C, W, and Y, and another which covers strain B.

Infants aged 12 months and teenagers born between 1 August 1997 and 30 April 2003 are eligible for a free ACWY meningococcal vaccination.

Dr Bastian Seidel. Picture: AAP/LUKAS COCH

Everyone else must pay at least $70 for the ACWY vaccine and up to $280 for the strain B injection, Dr Seidel said.

“We need to have a look at how we can introduce a vaccination program for subtype B,” he said.

“There’s no reason why it shouldn’t be free. It’s foolish to assume a bacterium will stay in a single state, with Tasmania becoming more and more popular for tourists we’re going to be exposed to more meningococcal.

“Why we wait for someone to take action year after year, more and more people will be dying from meningococcal disease, which is not acceptable in 2018.”

Tasmania typically experiences about five cases of meningococcal disease each year, however, last year there were 16 cases.

Acting Health Minister Elise Archer said anyone who thinks they have meningococcal disease should seek help immediately from a doctor, hospital or ambulance.

“The Government will continue to take advice from public health experts on managing disease risk and immunisation programs,” she said.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the [Beltz] family and will not speculate about the circumstances surrounding this tragic death.”

Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said the State Government needed to make the vaccinations “more accessible and more affordable”.

“Vaccination is the only way to protect against meningococcal, but at the moment we know that the vaccination is cost prohibitive for most Tasmanians,” she said.

Early symptoms of meningococcal can include fever, severe muscle aches and pains, headache, feeling unwell, confused or drowsy. Late in the illness a purple rash may occur.

To receive the vaccine contact your doctor, local council or community health centre.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MENINGOCOCCAL

WHAT IS IT?

■ Meningococcal disease is an acute bacterial infection that can cause death within hours if not recognised and treated in time.

■ In Australia there are five main strains of the disease, all of which now have vaccinations available from your doctor.

■ Although the majority of victims will recover fully, 10 per cent will die and about 20 per cent will have permanent disabilities.

MENINGITIS and SEPTICAEMIA

■ One of the reasons meningococcal disease is hard to identify is that it can appear in several different forms, depending on which part of the body the bacteria invade: meningitis (affecting the brain and spinal cord) or septicaemia (affecting the blood), or a combination of both.

MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS

■ Meningitis is inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.

■ There are many different forms of meningitis — fungal, viral and bacterial. Bacterial meningitis, also called meningococcal disease, is the most serious form.

■ Symptoms may include a severe headache, fever, fatigue, stiff or painful neck, sensitivity to light or convulsions.

■ Meningococcal meningitis can result in permanent disabilities — such as deafness or brain injury — and can cause death.

MENINGOCOCCAL SEPTICAEMIA

■ This is the most dangerous and deadly type of meningococcal disease.

■ It happens when the bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply uncontrollably, damaging the walls of the blood vessels and causing bleeding into the skin (which results in the distinctive rash).

■ Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, vomiting, cold hands and feet, cold shivers, severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest or abdomen, rapid breathing, diarrhoea – and, in the later stages, a pinprick or purple bruise-like rash.

■ Septicaemia can lead to death within hours, or permanent disabilities such as severe scarring due to skin grafts and amputation of the fingers, toes, arms or legs – due to lack of blood circulation in the extremities of the body.

MOST AT RISK

■ Babies and children up to the age of five years.

■ Teenagers and young adults 15 to 24 years.

VACCINATION

■ There are now vaccines available for each of the five main strains of the disease.

Source: Meningococcal Australia www.meningococcal.org.au