Praise for mass meningococcal vaccination program

The program to vaccinate young Tasmanians against meningococcal has been lauded as the most successful mass immunisation program in the state’s history.

Public Health Services clinical director Dr Faline Howes and Health Minister Michael Ferguson at a meningococcal immunisation clinic at the Derwent Entertainment Centre last August. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

PUBLIC Health Services clinical director Dr Faline Howes says Tasmania has achieved a “high level of community protection” against meningococcal ACWY.

After delivering more than 96,000 vaccinations in the past 18 months, the state-funded meningococcal ACWY immunisation program will this week begin to transition into the National Immunisation Program.

The vaccination campaign has been the most successful mass immunisation program in the state’s history, with almost 75 per cent of Tasmanians aged between six weeks and 21 years protected.

Dr Howes said GPs would continue to offer free state-funded vaccines to the targeted group while stocks last, but pharmacists will no longer be providing meningococcal jabs to those aged 10 to 21.

The new national program will cover children aged 12 months, Year 10 students and a catch-up program for teenagers aged 15 to 19 from April 1.

“We thank everyone who made the meningococcal immunisation campaign such a success — GPs, pharmacists, local councils, volunteers, and those in the community who responded so well to this collective effort,” Dr Howes said.

There were five cases of W strain — including the death of 16-year-old Sarah Rose Beltz — two cases of Y strain and four cases of B strain in the state last year.

Meningococcal B is the only common strain of the disease that isn’t part of a vaccination program.

Dr Howes said the opportunity for ACWY meningococcal bacteria to get a foothold in young Tasmanians and spread to others was significantly reduced given the number of Tasmanians now protected.

“Tasmania has achieved a high level of community protection through this immunisation program,” she said.

“However, we encourage any eligible Tasmanian (aged 21 years or less) who has not received the vaccine to get their dose soon from their GP.”

Dr Howes said while the meningococcal ACWY vaccine program had significantly reduced the number of young people who are carrying the bacteria in their throat, some of the strains may continue to circulate at low levels in the community.

“Cases of meningococcal disease may still occur in Tasmania, so the most important thing Tasmanians can do to reduce their risk is ensure they are vaccinated,” she said.

For more information visit www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/menw