Health Minister Brad Hazzard announces senior New South Wales school students to receive free meningococcal vaccine stat : Yahoo News

It is believed those aged 17-18 are at a higher risk of catching the deadly strain. Every year 11 and 12 student in New South Wales will be offered a free meningococcal vaccination to combat a deadly new strain that threatens to infiltrate the country. Those who fit the age description but no longer attend a NSW high school will still be eligible for the lifesaving vaccine from their local GP later in the year. Close Stop Video Replay Perth hit by another meningococcal scare UP NEXT VIDEO A child is in a stable condition in Princess Margaret Hospital after contracting the W strain of meningococcal. NSW's decision to implement the free vaccine for senior students follows a similar decision made by the WA state government earlier this year.




All NSW students in year 11 and 12 will be offered free meningococcal vaccination to combat the rise in W strain cases and protect them against the potentially fatal disease. W strain has become the most prevalent strain nationally and in NSW. Federal Health Department officials have been having discussions with pharmaceutical companies regarding options for managing meningococcal W disease. Infants will be protected through herd immunity conferred from the program, NSW Health advised. AdvertisementActing on the advice of immunisation experts, the government will introduce the NSW Meningococcal W Response Program in Term Two for 17 and 18 year olds.


Free meningococcal vaccine for NSW teenagers to protect against W strain of diseasePostedA free vaccination program to protect teenagers from the W strain of the deadly meningococcal disease has been announced by the New South Wales Government. Cases of W strain increasing in AustraliaThere are five main strains of meningococcal disease: A, C, W, Y and B. Of the 256 cases of meningococcal disease in Australia last year, 48 to 50 per cent were cases of the W strain. He said notifications of the W strain of the disease had almost tripled across the state since 2015 and about 8 per cent of people infected with the W strain died from the disease. Dr Vicky Sheppeard, the NSW Health director for communicable diseases, said people of all ages were vulnerable to the W strain.



collected by :Lucy William

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