Latest news with #NationalImmunisationProgram
West Australian
2 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
Goldfielders encouraged to take advantage of extended free flu vaccination program
WA's free influenza vaccination program has been extended to the end of July as case numbers rise ahead of peak season. As of mid-June, nearly 9000 flu cases had been reported and more than 1500 have been hospitalised for related concerns. Of those hospitalisations, 18 per cent were children under 10, and 37 per cent were adults over 65. All West Australians aged six months and over remain eligible for the vaccine, which is especially recommended for people aged 65 and over as they are at higher risk of serious complications. Health Minister Meredith Hammat said influenza was more than a bad cold. 'It can lead to severe illness and hospitalisation, particularly for young children, older adults and people with underlying conditions,' she said. More than 763,180 people in WA are already vaccinated, but Preventative Health Minister Sabine Winton said it was not too late for those yet to roll up their sleeve. 'By getting your free flu vaccination, you're keeping yourself, your loved ones and the wider community safe,' she said. Free vaccinations are available through participating GPs, community pharmacies, Aboriginal medical services, nurse practitioner clinics, corporate vaccination service providers, and community health clinics. They are also available through the National Immunisation Program for those considered most at risk — pregnant women, adults over 65, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over six months, and people with serious medical conditions.
West Australian
24-06-2025
- Health
- West Australian
WA Health issues meningococcal warning as one adult recovers in hospital with the bacterial infection
One case of meningococcal has been confirmed in WA in the past week, health authorities say. WA Health said an adult was diagnosed with meningococcal serogroup B and is recovering in hospital on Tuesday. This is the sixth case reported in WA in 2025. Five of the six cases of meningococcal in WA this year have been type B. Meningococcal disease is uncommon, but can quickly become life-threatening if the bacterial infection gets into the bloodstream or the membranes that line the spinal cord and brain. But it's not easily spread from person to person. The bacterium is in droplets from the nose or throat and is usually spread by coughing or sneezing during close or prolonged contact. While about 10-20 per cent of the population carry the bacteria in the back of the nose or throat at any given time, meningococcal bacteria don't survive more than a few seconds in the environment. Symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease can include high fevers, chills, headaches, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, or severe muscle and joint pain. Authorities say it is harder to detect in very young children, so fever, pale or blotchy complexion, vomiting, lethargy (inactivity), poor feeding and a rash are important signs. There are several strains, or serogroups, of meningococcal. The most common are types A, B, C, W and Y. A combined vaccine for A, C, W and Y strains is free via the National Immunisation Program for all children aged 12-months, but the immunisation to protect against the B strain is not. Aboriginal children can access the MenACWY vaccine as early as six weeks and up to 12-months due to its higher prevalence among the First Nations population. They can also receive the MenB vaccine up to two-years-old. There were 13 meningococcal cases in WA in 2024, and one death. For more information, visit HealthyWA .
Perth Now
24-06-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
WA records sixth meningococcal case for 2025
One case of meningococcal has been confirmed in WA in the past week, health authorities say. WA Health said an adult was diagnosed with meningococcal serogroup B and is recovering in hospital on Tuesday. This is the sixth case reported in WA in 2025. Five of the six cases of meningococcal in WA this year have been type B. Meningococcal disease is uncommon, but can quickly become life-threatening if the bacterial infection gets into the bloodstream or the membranes that line the spinal cord and brain. But it's not easily spread from person to person. The bacterium is in droplets from the nose or throat and is usually spread by coughing or sneezing during close or prolonged contact. While about 10-20 per cent of the population carry the bacteria in the back of the nose or throat at any given time, meningococcal bacteria don't survive more than a few seconds in the environment. Symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease can include high fevers, chills, headaches, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, or severe muscle and joint pain. Authorities say it is harder to detect in very young children, so fever, pale or blotchy complexion, vomiting, lethargy (inactivity), poor feeding and a rash are important signs. There are several strains, or serogroups, of meningococcal. The most common are types A, B, C, W and Y. A combined vaccine for A, C, W and Y strains is free via the National Immunisation Program for all children aged 12-months, but the immunisation to protect against the B strain is not. Aboriginal children can access the MenACWY vaccine as early as six weeks and up to 12-months due to its higher prevalence among the First Nations population. They can also receive the MenB vaccine up to two-years-old. There were 13 meningococcal cases in WA in 2024, and one death. For more information, visit HealthyWA.
The Advertiser
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Heartbroken mum urges free vaccines for deadly disease
A grieving parent is urging states to act quickly and help stop a fatal yet preventable disease by making vaccines free. Meningococcal B is the leading strain of the disease in Australia, accounting for five in six cases in 2022. But families trying to protect key groups - young children and adolescents - need to fork out about $270 for the two-dose vaccine in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. Without it, the disease kills about one in 10 and leaves one-in-four survivors with permanent complications. Research has also found the jab can reduce gonorrhoea cases in teenagers, an antibiotic-resistant infection that can cause infertility. With the NSW budget on the horizon, Stacey Charter pleaded with state leaders to ensure other families do not experience the heartache she felt after losing her son to the fast-moving disease. Days before Christmas in 2022, Stacey noticed her son Brayden was feeling unwell and two hours later she found him convulsing and unresponsive. Despite being rushed to hospital, the 23-year-old was declared brain-dead later that night. "No parent should have to endure what we have," Ms Charter said. "Brayden's death could have been prevented. "That's why I am pleading with the Minns government and (Health Minister) Ryan Park to act before another family is left heartbroken. I simply don't understand why they won't listen." The meningococcal B jab is free for First Nations children before their first birthday and people with certain medical conditions under the national immunisation program But all babies and teens can access it for free under state-funded programs in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. Meningitis Centre Australia said NSW needed to follow suit and make preventative health a priority. It says a NSW program would cost an estimated $20 million per year. "We are on the brink of peak season; we must act now before any other family is impacted," chief executive Karen Quick said. NSW lower-house independent MPs, opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane and the Greens also back the call for free vaccines. A government spokesman said it would respond based on the evidence available, with figures showing only one in every 200,000 NSW residents contracted the disease each year. NSW's health minister had asked federal counterpart Mark Butler to consider including the meningococcal B vaccine in the National Immunisation Program, he said. About 135 Australians contracted all forms of meningococcal disease in 2024, with 46 cases reported this year, the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard shows. A grieving parent is urging states to act quickly and help stop a fatal yet preventable disease by making vaccines free. Meningococcal B is the leading strain of the disease in Australia, accounting for five in six cases in 2022. But families trying to protect key groups - young children and adolescents - need to fork out about $270 for the two-dose vaccine in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. Without it, the disease kills about one in 10 and leaves one-in-four survivors with permanent complications. Research has also found the jab can reduce gonorrhoea cases in teenagers, an antibiotic-resistant infection that can cause infertility. With the NSW budget on the horizon, Stacey Charter pleaded with state leaders to ensure other families do not experience the heartache she felt after losing her son to the fast-moving disease. Days before Christmas in 2022, Stacey noticed her son Brayden was feeling unwell and two hours later she found him convulsing and unresponsive. Despite being rushed to hospital, the 23-year-old was declared brain-dead later that night. "No parent should have to endure what we have," Ms Charter said. "Brayden's death could have been prevented. "That's why I am pleading with the Minns government and (Health Minister) Ryan Park to act before another family is left heartbroken. I simply don't understand why they won't listen." The meningococcal B jab is free for First Nations children before their first birthday and people with certain medical conditions under the national immunisation program But all babies and teens can access it for free under state-funded programs in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. Meningitis Centre Australia said NSW needed to follow suit and make preventative health a priority. It says a NSW program would cost an estimated $20 million per year. "We are on the brink of peak season; we must act now before any other family is impacted," chief executive Karen Quick said. NSW lower-house independent MPs, opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane and the Greens also back the call for free vaccines. A government spokesman said it would respond based on the evidence available, with figures showing only one in every 200,000 NSW residents contracted the disease each year. NSW's health minister had asked federal counterpart Mark Butler to consider including the meningococcal B vaccine in the National Immunisation Program, he said. About 135 Australians contracted all forms of meningococcal disease in 2024, with 46 cases reported this year, the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard shows. A grieving parent is urging states to act quickly and help stop a fatal yet preventable disease by making vaccines free. Meningococcal B is the leading strain of the disease in Australia, accounting for five in six cases in 2022. But families trying to protect key groups - young children and adolescents - need to fork out about $270 for the two-dose vaccine in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. Without it, the disease kills about one in 10 and leaves one-in-four survivors with permanent complications. Research has also found the jab can reduce gonorrhoea cases in teenagers, an antibiotic-resistant infection that can cause infertility. With the NSW budget on the horizon, Stacey Charter pleaded with state leaders to ensure other families do not experience the heartache she felt after losing her son to the fast-moving disease. Days before Christmas in 2022, Stacey noticed her son Brayden was feeling unwell and two hours later she found him convulsing and unresponsive. Despite being rushed to hospital, the 23-year-old was declared brain-dead later that night. "No parent should have to endure what we have," Ms Charter said. "Brayden's death could have been prevented. "That's why I am pleading with the Minns government and (Health Minister) Ryan Park to act before another family is left heartbroken. I simply don't understand why they won't listen." The meningococcal B jab is free for First Nations children before their first birthday and people with certain medical conditions under the national immunisation program But all babies and teens can access it for free under state-funded programs in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. Meningitis Centre Australia said NSW needed to follow suit and make preventative health a priority. It says a NSW program would cost an estimated $20 million per year. "We are on the brink of peak season; we must act now before any other family is impacted," chief executive Karen Quick said. NSW lower-house independent MPs, opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane and the Greens also back the call for free vaccines. A government spokesman said it would respond based on the evidence available, with figures showing only one in every 200,000 NSW residents contracted the disease each year. NSW's health minister had asked federal counterpart Mark Butler to consider including the meningococcal B vaccine in the National Immunisation Program, he said. About 135 Australians contracted all forms of meningococcal disease in 2024, with 46 cases reported this year, the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard shows. A grieving parent is urging states to act quickly and help stop a fatal yet preventable disease by making vaccines free. Meningococcal B is the leading strain of the disease in Australia, accounting for five in six cases in 2022. But families trying to protect key groups - young children and adolescents - need to fork out about $270 for the two-dose vaccine in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. Without it, the disease kills about one in 10 and leaves one-in-four survivors with permanent complications. Research has also found the jab can reduce gonorrhoea cases in teenagers, an antibiotic-resistant infection that can cause infertility. With the NSW budget on the horizon, Stacey Charter pleaded with state leaders to ensure other families do not experience the heartache she felt after losing her son to the fast-moving disease. Days before Christmas in 2022, Stacey noticed her son Brayden was feeling unwell and two hours later she found him convulsing and unresponsive. Despite being rushed to hospital, the 23-year-old was declared brain-dead later that night. "No parent should have to endure what we have," Ms Charter said. "Brayden's death could have been prevented. "That's why I am pleading with the Minns government and (Health Minister) Ryan Park to act before another family is left heartbroken. I simply don't understand why they won't listen." The meningococcal B jab is free for First Nations children before their first birthday and people with certain medical conditions under the national immunisation program But all babies and teens can access it for free under state-funded programs in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. Meningitis Centre Australia said NSW needed to follow suit and make preventative health a priority. It says a NSW program would cost an estimated $20 million per year. "We are on the brink of peak season; we must act now before any other family is impacted," chief executive Karen Quick said. NSW lower-house independent MPs, opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane and the Greens also back the call for free vaccines. A government spokesman said it would respond based on the evidence available, with figures showing only one in every 200,000 NSW residents contracted the disease each year. NSW's health minister had asked federal counterpart Mark Butler to consider including the meningococcal B vaccine in the National Immunisation Program, he said. About 135 Australians contracted all forms of meningococcal disease in 2024, with 46 cases reported this year, the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard shows.
West Australian
11-06-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Heartbroken mum urges free vaccines for deadly disease
A grieving parent is urging states to act quickly and help stop a fatal yet preventable disease by making vaccines free. Meningococcal B is the leading strain of the disease in Australia, accounting for five in six cases in 2022. But families trying to protect key groups - young children and adolescents - need to fork out about $270 for the two-dose vaccine in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. Without it, the disease kills about one in 10 and leaves one-in-four survivors with permanent complications. Research has also found the jab can reduce gonorrhoea cases in teenagers, an antibiotic-resistant infection that can cause infertility. With the NSW budget on the horizon, Stacey Charter pleaded with state leaders to ensure other families do not experience the heartache she felt after losing her son to the fast-moving disease. Days before Christmas in 2022, Stacey noticed her son Brayden was feeling unwell and two hours later she found him convulsing and unresponsive. Despite being rushed to hospital, the 23-year-old was declared brain-dead later that night. "No parent should have to endure what we have," Ms Charter said. "Brayden's death could have been prevented. "That's why I am pleading with the Minns government and (Health Minister) Ryan Park to act before another family is left heartbroken. I simply don't understand why they won't listen." The meningococcal B jab is free for First Nations children before their first birthday and people with certain medical conditions under the national immunisation program But all babies and teens can access it for free under state-funded programs in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. Meningitis Centre Australia said NSW needed to follow suit and make preventative health a priority. It says a NSW program would cost an estimated $20 million per year. "We are on the brink of peak season; we must act now before any other family is impacted," chief executive Karen Quick said. NSW lower-house independent MPs, opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane and the Greens also back the call for free vaccines. A government spokesman said it would respond based on the evidence available, with figures showing only one in every 200,000 NSW residents contracted the disease each year. NSW's health minister had asked federal counterpart Mark Butler to consider including the meningococcal B vaccine in the National Immunisation Program, he said. About 135 Australians contracted all forms of meningococcal disease in 2024, with 46 cases reported this year, the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard shows.
