Meningococcal Archives - Illawarra Medical Centre https://illawarramedical.com.au/category/meningococcal/ Providing superior health care to families and local businesses in the Ballajura area for more than 25 years Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:53:56 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Australia’s high school vaccination program https://illawarramedical.com.au/australias-high-school-vaccination-program/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=australias-high-school-vaccination-program Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:46:02 +0000 https://illawarramedical.com.au/?p=9377 As we come to the end of World Immunization Week and the start of the Australia’s flu vaccine rollout, it’s a timely reminder of another very important vaccination program for our high school aged adolescents. This age group is particularly vulnerable to certain diseases, including pertussis (whooping cough), human papillomavirus (HPV), and meningococcal. They are […]

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As we come to the end of World Immunization Week and the start of the Australia’s flu vaccine rollout, it’s a timely reminder of another very important vaccination program for our high school aged adolescents.

This age group is particularly vulnerable to certain diseases, including pertussis (whooping cough), human papillomavirus (HPV), and meningococcal. They are also at high risk of spreading these to the broader community when infected.

Recent research indicates a drop in adolescent vaccine uptake in recent years, which is a concern. In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at the high school vaccination program and why protecting our teens against these diseases is so important.

Australia’s adolescent vaccine program

Australia’s National Immunisation Program provides a series of free vaccinations for Australian teenagers. These are delivered through school-based immunisation programs and other health services to students in Year 7 and Year 10.

These include:

  • a booster vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (dTpa), usually offered in year 7;
  • the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, usually offered in year 7; and
  • a meningococcal ACWY vaccine, offered in year 10.

Parents need to provide consent for their children to receive vaccinations through the school-based immunisation program. In Western Australia, this can be completed online through WA Health or directly through your school.

Source: Department of Health, Western Australia (School-based immunisation program)

Diseases covered by the program

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a serious disease caused by a toxin made by bacteria. It causes a thick grey coating in the back of the nose or throat that makes it hard to breathe or swallow and can be deadly. The dTpa vaccine given to Year 7 students protects against diphtheria.

Tetanus

Tetanus is an acute, often fatal disease, also caused by a toxin produced by bacteria.

It can lead breathing problems and paralysis, and muscle spasms from the disease can be strong enough to break a child’s spine or other bones.

About 20 per cent of people who get tetanus in Australia will die as a result.

The dTpa vaccine given to Year 7 students protects against tetanus.

Pertussis

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a potentially fatal bacterial infection that attacks the airways causing uncontrollable coughing and difficulty breathing. Whooping cough spreads easily through households and families.

While babies are at greatest risk of severe illness from the disease, it can cause serious illness in older children and adults, particularly for people with asthma.

The dTPa vaccine given to Year 7 students protects against pertussis.

This vaccine is given routinely to infants at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months and 4 years of age, with a booster given to adolescents aged between 11-13. A booster dose is also highly recommended for pregnant women and those aged 50 and 65 years of age.

HPV

HPV is a viral infection that can cause cancers and genital warts and is sexually transmitted.

The benefits of HPV vaccines are greatest when given before exposure to the virus. This is why the vaccine is given to all young people in early high school, before they become sexually active.

We know that HPV vaccination at this age works. Australia has one of the lowest rates of the disease in the world, thanks to proactive health strategies aimed at eliminating the disease.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare notes that cervical cancer incidence rates have noticeably decreased since the introduction of the HPV adolescent vaccine program. Incidence rates have fallen from 9.3 cases per 100,000 females in 2013 to an estimated 0.5 in 2025. In addition, age-standardised mortality rates for cervical cancer decreased from 3.2 deaths per 100,000 females in 2000 to an estimated 1.8 deaths in 2025.

Healthy young people who receive a single dose before 26 years of age will not need further doses. Anyone who missed the HPV vaccination at 12 to 13 years of age can still catch up for free up to age 26.

Meningococcal

Meningococcal disease is the result of a bacterial infection of the blood and/or membranes that line the spinal cord and brain.

While the disease is relatively uncommon, it can spread rapidly and become life-threatening for those infected.

Those aged 15-24 years are at a high risk, due to their social lifestyle, which generally includes more intimate activities such as kissing and sharing drinks.

The most common strains of meningococcal that are responsible for cases of infection are A, B, C, W, and Y. While the school-based program only protects against the ACWY strains of the disease, private scripts are available for meningococcal B vaccines and are highly recommended.

Some of the highest rates of meningococcal carriage and illness occur among 15- to 19-year olds and the B strain has become increasingly prevalent in recent years.

Table 2: Reported cases of meningococcal in Australia by strain 2022; courtesy of GSK

Vaccination decline

Over the last few years, adolescent vaccination coverage rates have declined. As noted by Australia’s National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), the proportion of teens who had received their adolescent dose of dTpa in the year they turned 15 decreased from 87.3% in 2021 to 86.9% in 2022 to 85.5% in 2023.

Meanwhile, the proportion who had received one dose of meningococcal ACWY vaccine by age 17 fell from 76.1% in 2021 to 75.9% in 2022 to 72.8% in 2023. Vaccination coverage among Indigenous teenagers dropped by similar amounts.

While this aligns with an overall trend in vaccination rates across all age groups, since the COVID pandemic, it does expose more teenagers and members of the wider community to serious infection from these vaccine-preventable diseases.

Are these vaccines safe?

Yes. Vaccines given in Australia are perfectly safe and you cannot get the virus from having the relevant vaccine.

Like any vaccine, it is possible that some people may experience a reaction; however, the risk of the vaccines causing serious harm is very low.

In Australia, all vaccines must pass strict safety testing before being approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). We also have a national program – AusVaxSafety – that monitors the type and rate of reactions to all vaccines on the National Immunisation Program.

So if you have a child in Year 7 or 10, make sure you register your consent for vaccination prior to the program being delivered at their school. You can contact your school directly for specific dates and details or speak with your GP for more information.

WA Health also provides a useful guide for parents on the school-based immunisation program:

For more information, visit:

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]]> Meningococcal B most prevalent strain in Australia https://illawarramedical.com.au/meningococcal-b-most-prevalent-strain-in-australia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meningococcal-b-most-prevalent-strain-in-australia Wed, 21 Aug 2024 05:50:00 +0000 https://illawarramedical.com.au/?p=8042 Meningococcal is a serious infection that can cause severe scarring, loss of limbs, brain damage and death. Most cases in Australia are due to the B serotype of the disease, with children less than 2 years of age and those aged 15-24 years at most risk of contracting the disease. In this month’s blog, we […]

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Meningococcal is a serious infection that can cause severe scarring, loss of limbs, brain damage and death. Most cases in Australia are due to the B serotype of the disease, with children less than 2 years of age and those aged 15-24 years at most risk of contracting the disease.

In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at meningococcal disease and how you can best protect yourself and your family.

What is meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal disease is the result of a bacterial infection of the blood and/or membranes that line the spinal cord and brain.

The most common strains responsible for cases of infection are A, B, C, W, and Y and vaccinations for all these strains of the disease are available in Australia.

While the disease is relatively uncommon, and most people will recover completely with early antibiotic treatment, it can spread rapidly and become life-threatening for those infected.

Up to 10 per cent of cases result in a long-term disability, such as a loss of a limb or neurological damage and, in very rare cases, if left untreated, meningococcal infection can result in death.

Meningococcal in Western Australia

There have been an increasing number of cases reported in Western Australia this year, particularly for the B strain of the disease.

As at 20 August 2024, there have been seven cases of meningococcal disease reported in WA, comprising six serogroup B and one serogroup W.

Table 1: Reported cases of meningococcal in Australia by Jurisdiction 2010-2024; courtesy of Australian Government National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard (20 August 2024).

Last year, there were 143 reported cases Australia-wide, up from 121 cases in 2022. So far this year, there have been 77 reported cases to date, with Serogroup B remaining the leading strain for meningococcal disease in Australia.

Table 2: Reported cases of meningococcal in Australia by strain 2022; courtesy of GSK

What are the symptoms?

One of the tricky things about meningococcal is that it can appear in different forms, depending on which part of the body the bacteria invade (meningitis– affecting the brain and spinal cord; and septicaemia– affecting the blood; or a combination of both).

People can also experience different symptoms. In general, some of the most common symptoms experienced include:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Neck stiffness
  • Muscle or joint pains
  • Drowsiness or confusion
  • Fatigue
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Convulsions
  • Rapid breathing or panting
  • Cold hands and feet

In the later stages of the disease, a pinprick or purple bruise-like rash can develop. It is important to get this type of rash checked immediately by your doctor or emergency department.

Meningococcal disease is treated with antibiotics and the earlier the treatment commences, the better the chance of making a full recovery.

Who is at risk?

While up to one-fifth of people carry meningococcal bacteria in the back of their nose and throat, only a small number of people will develop an infection from the meningococcal bacteria.

Those at greatest risk of contracting the disease include babies and children up to the age of 5, due to their developing immune systems and tendency to put things in their mouths and share toys, food and drinks.
 
Those aged 15-24 years are also at a high risk, due to their social lifestyle, which generally includes more intimate activities such as kissing and sharing drinks.
 

Others at risk include those with a recent or current viral respiratory infection, smokers, those living in crowded living conditions and those with a weakened immune system.

Preventing meningococcal

Practising good hygiene can also help prevent against the disease; however, vaccination remains the best way to protect against meningococcal.

Unfortunately, there is no single vaccine available to protect against all strains of meningococcal disease; however, there are different vaccines available to help protect against the most common strains – A, B, C, W and Y.

With most cases of meningococcal in Australia resulting from the B serotype of the disease, vaccination against the B strain is only free through the National Immunisation Program for Aboriginal children aged less than two years old and people of all ages with certain health conditions.

Others can get the vaccine through private prescription from their GP.

Despite being free through the National Immunisation Program to only select groups, vaccination against meningococcal B is also strongly recommended for:

  • All infants and young children aged 2 or under
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 2-19 years old
  • Healthy adolescents aged 15-19 years old
  • Adolescents and young adults aged 15-24 years old, living in close quarters or who are current smokers
  • People with certain medical conditions
  • Travellers
  • Laboratory workers who frequently handle Neisseria meningitides

The Meningococcal ACWY vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program for:

  • children aged 12 months
  • Aboriginal children (may need additional doses)
  • Year 10 students through school-based vaccination programs. Catch up vaccinations are free for those aged 15-19 for missed vaccinations.
  • People of all ages with asplenia and hyposplenia, complement deficiency and those receiving treatment with eculizumab.  

Book in for your vaccine at IMC

We regularly stock vaccines for all meningococcal strains at Illawarra Medical Centre. To book in for your meningococcal vaccine, make an appointment online or phone us on (08) 9208 6400.

If you have any concerns or questions, book in with your GP to discuss.

For more information on this topic, visit:

The post Meningococcal B most prevalent strain in Australia appeared first on Illawarra Medical Centre.

]]> Meningococcal B cases on the rise https://illawarramedical.com.au/meningococcal-b-cases-on-the-rise/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meningococcal-b-cases-on-the-rise Thu, 24 Nov 2022 01:58:41 +0000 https://illawarramedical.com.au/?p=6389 Meningococcal is a serious infection that can cause severe scarring, loss of limbs, brain damage and death. With cases of meningococcal B on the rise in Australia this year, it’s an important reminder for us all to keep up-to-date with our vaccinations, particularly those who are at most risk. In this month’s blog, we take […]

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]]>

Meningococcal is a serious infection that can cause severe scarring, loss of limbs, brain damage and death. With cases of meningococcal B on the rise in Australia this year, it’s an important reminder for us all to keep up-to-date with our vaccinations, particularly those who are at most risk. In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at the disease.

What is meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal disease is the result of a bacterial infection of the blood and/or membranes that line the spinal cord and brain.

The most common strains that are responsible for cases of infection are A, B, C, W, and Y and vaccinations for all these strains of the disease are available in Australia.

While the disease is relatively uncommon, and most people will recover completely with early antibiotic treatment, it can spread rapidly and become life-threatening for those infected.

Up to 10 per cent of cases result in a long-term disability, such as a loss of a limb or neurological damage and, in very rare cases, if left untreated, can result in death.

Meningococcal in Western Australia

There have been an increasing number of cases of meningococcal disease reported in Western Australia this year, particularly for the B strain of the disease.

Table 1: Notifications of IMD by serogroup, state and territory to 30 September 2022; courtesy of GSK **NG includes where meningococcal isolates could not be identifies (‘not groupable’), other isolates not grouped and where serogroup was not known.

What are the symptoms?

One of the tricky things about meningococcal is that it can appear in different forms, depending on which part of the body the bacteria invade (meningitis– affecting the brain and spinal cord; and septicaemia– affecting the blood; or a combination of both).

People can also experience different symptoms.

In general, some of the most common symptoms experienced include:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Neck stiffness
  • Muscle or joint pains
  • Drowsiness or confusion
  • Fatigue
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Convulsions
  • Rapid breathing or panting
  • Cold hands and feet

In the later stages of the disease, a pinprick or purple bruise-like rash can develop. It is important to get this type of rash checked immediately by your doctor or emergency department.

Meningococcal disease is treated with antibiotics and the earlier the treatment commences, the better the chance of making a full recovery.

Who is at risk?

While up to one-fifth of people carry meningococcal bacteria in the back of their nose and throat, only a small number of people will develop an infection from the meningococcal bacteria.

Those at greatest risk of contracting the disease include babies and children up to the age of 5 (due to their developing immune systems and tendency to put things in their mouths and share toys, food and drinks) and those in the 15-24 year age bracket (due to their social lifestyle, which generally includes more intimate activities toto jitu such as kissing and sharing drinks).

Others at risk include those with a recent or current viral respiratory infection, smokers, those living in crowded living conditions and those with a weakened immune system.

Preventing meningococcal

While practising good hygiene can help prevent against the disease, vaccination remains the best way to protect against meningococcal. Unfortunately, there is no single vaccine available to protect against all strains of the disease; however, there are different vaccines available to help protect against the most common strains – A, B, C, W and Y.

Vaccination against meningococcal B is strongly recommended for:

  • Infants and young children aged 2 or under
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 2-19 years old
  • Healthy adolescents aged 15-19 years old
  • Adolescents and young adults aged 15-24 years old, living in close quarters or who are current smokers
  • People with certain medical conditions
  • Travellers
  • Laboratory workers who frequently handle Neisseria meningitides

Meningococcal B vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program for:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 2 months, 4 months, 6 months (certain medical conditions) and 12 months.
  • People of all ages with asplenia and hyposplenia, complement deficiency and those receiving treatment with eculizumab.

Others can get the vaccine through private prescription from their GP.

Meningococcal ACWY vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program for:

  • children aged 12 months
  • adolescents aged 14-16 years through school-based vaccination programs.
  • People of all ages with asplenia and hyposplenia, complement deficiency and those receiving treatment with eculizumab.  

Book in for your vaccine at IMC

We regularly stock vaccines for all meningococcal strains at Illawarra Medical Centre. To book in for your vaccination, make an appointment online or phone us on (08) 9208 6400.

If you have any concerns or questions, book in with your GP to discuss.

For more information on this topic, visit:

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