New meningococcal cases confirmed: The menB vaccine is free for your eligible patients

The third case of meningococcal B (menB) has been diagnosed in northern Queensland.

Queensland Chief Health Officer, Dr John Gerrard, urges immunisation providers, including GPs, to ensure their patients are up to date with their immunisations and eligible patients are aware they can receive free menB vaccination.

Almost one third of children in Queensland are not fully immunised against menB. In the 15 to 20-year-old cohort, just under 14% have been immunised, leaving approximately 386, 000 eligible adolescents unvaccinated, according to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) data for Queensland.

About the state-funded meningococcal B vaccination program for infants and adolescents

The Queensland MenB Vaccination Program aims to remove financial barriers to vaccination, improve vaccine uptake, and improve the protection that menB vaccination provides against meningococcal disease.

MenB vaccines can be ordered at no cost from Queensland Health as part of your practice's routine fortnightly vaccine orders.

As announced on 1 March 2024, Queensland is now funding menB vaccines for the following groups of people:

• All infants and young children aged 6 weeks to 12 months old
  • Children aged 12 months or less than 2 years are eligible for catch-up.
• All adolescents aged 15 to 19 years old (inclusive)
  • The Queensland School Immunisation Program offers menB vaccination to year 10 students. All adolescents aged 15 to 19 years old can access this vaccine through primary care immunisation service providers.

For further information on the free menB vaccination program, please contact Scott Brown, Director, Immunisaiton Unit, Department of Health on 07 3328 970 or via email at scott.brown@health.qld.gov.au.

More information for your patients

Consumer information and frequently asked questions about the Queensland MenB Vaccination program is available on the Queensland Health website.

Further support for vaccine providers

• For support accessing your practice's immunisation data, contact our practice support team via support@bsphn.org.au.

• More immunisation guidance for adolescents and children is available on Brisbane South HealthPathways: brisbanesouth.communityhealthpathways.org/45076.htm