Mum whose son died of meningococcal B welcomes free vaccines in Victoria

The vaccine can cost hundreds of dollars and requires multiple doses. (ABC News: Sarah Collard) Year 10 students in Victoria will have access to meningococcal vaccines from January 10 next year. The $9 million program will provide funding for the B strain of the disease, which is not covered under the National Immunisation Program. Experts are calling for the program to be expanded further to incorporate infants in the vaccination cohort. Link copiedShareShare articleYear 10 students will have access to free vaccinations for deadly meningococcal B as part of a government program rolling out from January 1 next year. The government has allocated $9 million for the program, which will add the B strain to the existing meningococcal A,C,W and Y vaccines available for free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). Meningococcal B is a contagious bacterial infection that can cause serious injury and death, sometimes as quickly as within 24 to 36 hours. Four cases of meningococcal disease have been reported in Victoria this year, with 18 cases reported in the past 12 months. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, up to one in 10 patients with meningococcal disease will die and up to one in five surviving patients will suffer from long-term health problems. Four other strains excluding the B strain are covered as part of the National Immunisation Program. (ABC News: Selina Ross) RACGP Victoria chair Anita Muñoz welcomed the announcement, saying the vaccine provided vital protection for teenagers who were particularly at risk. "I think in a country such as ours, a first world country, it's not acceptable for any adolescent to die of meningococcal B," she said. The vaccine, which was previously only available privately through GPs, can cost hundreds of dollars and requires multiple doses. The cost has provided a barrier to vaccine uptake, even prompting one Ballarat mother to personally raise the money in 2024 to vaccinate an entire Year 11 class. Dr Muñoz said infants were also at risk of the disease and called on the government to expand the funding of the programme to cover more cohorts. "I think that we are halfway there. I would like the conversation to continue," she said. Health Minister Harriet Shing said while the program was only funded for Year 10 students, it was exploring other funding avenues. The government would also not confirm whether the vaccine program would continue beyond next year. Other states, including South Australia and Queensland, currently provide free meningococcal B to eligible infants as well as teenagers. Monday's announcement took on special meaning for Melbourne mother Norliah Syer-Peterson, whose son, Levi, died suddenly last year after falling ill with meningococcal B. Since then, Ms Syer-Peterson said she had channelled the pain of losing her son into a campaign for positive change. "There is no way you could have ever imagined what that feels like," she said. Norliah's son Levi died suddenly from meningococcal B after the rapid onset on illness last year. (Supplied) Since his death in September, Ms Syer-Peterson said it had become her "mission" to educate parents about vaccination and push for meningococcal B vaccine funding. In December, she delivered a petition with more than 41,000 signatures to parliament calling for the government to fund the meningococcal B vaccine. "You don’t want your child to die in vain, but I know my child, and my child would want me to help work towards stopping other children from suffering a disability," she said. Dr Muñoz paid tribute to Ms Syer-Peterson for her role in triggering the change. "But no-one has been more instrumental in making this change than Norliah Syer-Peterson," she said. "No-one should have to experience what Norliah and her family have. She made it clear how fast, brutal, and unforgiving meningococcal B is, and the government has responded." Norliah Syer-Peterson has been praised for her advocacy for meningococcal B vaccination after her son, Levi, died. (Supplied) Ms Syer-Peterson said she could not take credit for today's announcement, and said she was glad it had happened. "It’s not just because of me. I’m not going to take credit for every single bit of advocacy that has been done in the past," she said. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)PromotionTop StoriesA tropical tax paradise sells much of Australia's gasTopic:Energy Markets

Mum whose son died of meningococcal B welcomes free vaccines in Victoria

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