State to roll out free meningococcal vaccinations for under-21s
UPDATE: NORTHERN Suburbs GPs expect to be inundated by patients keen to take advantage of free meningococcal vaccinations announced by the Government. SEE THE ANNOUNCEMENT | WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
UPDATE: THE State Government isn’t ruling out further expansion of its meningococcal vaccination program to cover more strains after ordering 100,000 shots for young Tasmanians.
As revealed by the Mercury yesterday, Health Minister Michael Ferguson and Public Health director Mark Veitch have announced an expansion of the vaccination program against four strains of the disease — A, C, W and Y — to all Tasmanians from six weeks old to 21.
Hobart’s Northern Suburbs will be prioritised in the three-month rollout, with three of the five cases confirmed in recent weeks originating in the area. The expanded program will then be rolled out statewide.
Four of the five cases, including the death of 16-year-old Sarah Rose Beltz, have been confirmed as the W strain of the disease.
A 20-year-old man contracted the B strain.
FEARLESS SARAH LEAVES MEMORIES TO TREASURE
Doctors welcomed the Government’s announcement on Thursday but have called for the $130-$140 B strain shots to be included in the extended program. Two jabs are needed and the total cost can reach $300.
However, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Bastian Seidel said “now is not the time for criticism” about the Government’s response.
“It’s the appropriate stopgap in order to protect to the most vulnerable now,” he said.
“Now is the time to get those vaccines out in the community to make sure GPs can protect their patients.”
DOCTORS WANT MENINGOCOCCAL UPDATES DAILY
Mr Ferguson said including the B strain in the future had not been ruled out, but was not urgent.
“Tasmania’s meningococcal B disease rate is consistent with our national rate whereas meningococcal W is currently higher,” he said.
“We will continue to consider coverage for all vaccine-preventable strains but we’ll be doing that on the advice of Dr Veitch and his expert colleagues.”
All Tasmanians in the highest-risk groups will be covered by the extended program, with six weeks the youngest age a vaccine can be administered.
The cost of extending the current program for the high-risk 15- to 19-year-old group will run into the millions, Mr Ferguson said.
FREE VACCINATIONS FOR ALL UNDER-21S
VACCINE PETITION GAINS STRONG SUPPORT
Dr Veitch said the three Northern Suburbs cases were unrelated and had occurred in different suburbs. But he said it was the first time a cluster of at least three cases had occurred in one area of the state.
“It’s probably an indication that the disease is circulating both in the Northern Suburbs and perhaps more widely in southern Tasmania,” Dr Veitch said.
Glenorchy mayor Kristie Johnston said her council would support the government effort.
“There’s no suggestion that there’s a particular reason why this cluster occurred in this area,” Alderman Johnston said.
“No doubt we have seen a cluster in this particular area and we’re really keen to ensure that we can protect the health of our children.”
The decision to mount a response to the outbreak came with two cases confirmed on Wednesday, taking the total to five in recent weeks.
A 36-year-old man and another man aged in his 70s each received treatment at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Dr Veitch said older Tasmanians remained at risk but a similar response to a C strain outbreak 15 years ago had produced benefits for the whole community.
“It’s our hope there will be at least some blunting of the risk, some herd immunity generated that provides a degree of protection,” he said.
Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said Mr Ferguson had taken too long to provide the information Tasmanian families needed.
“The Health Minister shouldn’t have to be dragged kicking and screaming to an announcement, he should have been in control from day one,” Ms Lovell said.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND GET HEADPHONES
EARLIER: DOCTORS expect to be inundated with even more patients anxious for a meningococcal vaccination after the State Government expanded its program to meet growing health concerns.
The state’s general practitioners have already experienced an influx of people keen for the innoculation and are bracing for more following the announcement from Health Minister Michael Ferguson.
All Tasmanians under the age of 21 will be eligible for a free shot against the A, C, W and Y strains of the deadly disease.
Glenorchy GP Gerard McGushin will be at the frontline as the 12-week program targets Hobart’s northern suburbs, where three of the state’s five cases originated.
“There’s a lot of trepidation and fear in the community about it so we’ve had a subsequent influx of people,” Dr McGushin told the Mercury.
Public Health authorities will order 100,000 vaccines to administer statewide.
“That’s a lot of people in the northern suburbs and a lot of people Tasmania-wide,” Dr McGushin said.
“There might be a bit of a rush on it — we expect it to be a pretty popular vaccine.”
EARLIER: HOBART’s northern suburbs will be prioritised in the three-month rollout of more than 100,000 meningococcal vaccinations as the State Government responds to the growing health concern.
As revealed by the Mercury, Health Minister Michael Ferguson and Director of Public Health Mark Veitch have announced an expansion of the vaccination program against four strains of the disease — A, C W and Y — to all Tasmanians under the age of 21.
Hobart’s north will be targeted with three of the five cases confirmed in recent weeks originating in the area.
Mr Ferguson said the expanded program would then be rolled out statewide.
“Based on advice from public health experts, the current vaccination program will be extended to include all Tasmanians aged between six weeks and 20 years,” he said.
“This cohort has been identified as the group at greatest risk of contracting and spreading the disease.
“The broader program announced today will see eligible Tasmanians receive a free meningococcal vaccine from either a general practitioner, a pharmacist (for children aged 10 and over), special public clinics, and some high schools.”
Four of the five cases, including the death of 16-year-old Sarah Rose Beltz, have been confirmed as W strain.
A 20-year-old man contracted the B strain.
“The Government will continue to work with Public Health experts to consider coverage for all vaccine-preventable strains,” Mr Ferguson said.
One hundred thousand vaccines will be purchased at a cost of millions of dollars, Mr Ferguson said.
MENINGOCOCCAL PETITION GAINS STRONG SUPPORT
All Tasmanians in the highest risk group will be covered by the extended program, with six weeks the youngest age a vaccine can be administered.
Dr Veitch conceded older Tasmanians could still be at risk and urged vigilance for symptoms from all members of the public.
“Meningococcal bacteria are spread through secretions of the nose and throat, and older teenagers are particularly at risk of carrying and transmitting the bacteria to others,” he said.
“It remains important for the public to be aware of the symptoms of meningococcal disease such as fever, severe headache, severe muscle pain, and quickly becoming unusually unwell.
“Late in the illness there can be a rash.
“Infants can be lethargic, floppy and feed poorly.”
The response followed two cases confirmed in the Hobart area on Wednesday, taking the total to five over the past two weeks.
A 36-year-old man and another man aged in his 70s were each in a stable condition and were receiving treatment at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
EARLIER: ALL Tasmanians under the age of 21 will be eligible for a free vaccination against meningococcal as the State Government rushes to respond to the growing health concern.
It is understood Health Minister Michael Ferguson will on Thursday announce that any Tasmanian born after August 1, 1997 will be able to receive the vaccine against four strains — A, C, W and Y — of the potentially deadly disease.
It follows a further two cases of meningococcal confirmed in the Hobart area on Wednesday, taking the total to five over the past two weeks.
A 36-year-old man and another man aged in his 70s were each in a stable condition and were receiving treatment at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Preliminary testing indicated the men had contracted the W strain of the disease.
The cases did not appear to be linked, either to each other or the three other recent cases.
Sixteen-year-old Sarah Rose Beltz died earlier this month after contracting the disease, while a three-month-old baby remains in the Royal in a stable condition.
FEARLESS SARAH LEAVES MEMORIES TO TREASURE
Mr Ferguson had promised a response and it is understood planning is under way for the extended scheme to kick off in coming weeks.
Vaccination will be offered for free at GP clinics, council clinics and a number of other settings statewide.
Pharmacists will be able to provide the vaccine to children aged 10 years and older.
The cost of extending the program is yet to be revealed.
Preliminary testing indicates four people contracted the W strain of the disease, including Ms Beltz.
One case of meningococcal B has been confirmed, with the person released from hospital.
Health authorities will continue to monitor the situation before any decision on including the costly B strain vaccination.
MUMS SAYS MENINGOCOCCAL B VACCINE IS TOO EXPENSIVE
MPs JOIN CALLS FOR MENINGOCOCCAL TO BE ON PBS
Last year, in response to an increase in meningococcal W cases, the Tasmanian Government intervened with an ACWY immunisation program targeting 15-19-year-olds. From July 1 the meningococcal ACWY vaccine was included in the National Immunisation Program as a routine vaccine at age 12 months.
“Public Health is taking an appropriate and responsible approach to dealing with cases of meningococcal in Tasmania and the Government is committed to expanding our state-funded program on the competent advice of the director,” Mr Ferguson said in a statement on Wednesday.
Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said close contacts of the latest sufferers were receiving antibiotics as a precaution.
“People should remain vigilant for meningococcal disease symptoms, and if they suspect they or someone they care for may have contracted meningococcal disease, they should seek emergency medical care immediately,” Dr Veitch said.
Tasmania has reached its average of around five meningococcal cases a year in the past two weeks.
Last year, there were 16 confirmed cases.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Dr 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.”
DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO ANOTHER CHILD
Angus Taylor or Sussan Ley ‘not the answer’, Labor’s wake-up call
The Coalition has ‘completely lost touch with the mainstream’, Wilkie says, casting an eye over the future of the Oppositions. Tassie also sent Labor a strong message on salmon, he claims.
How a teacher won Bass to become Tassie’s newest MP
A Labor landslide in Tasmania has flipped the seat of Bass to newcomer Jess Teesdale, teacher for 14 years and Launceston native. Meet the teacher who took the seat from Bridget Archer.