Pharmacies cop demand deluge

TASMANIAN pharmacies say demand for meningococcal vaccines has soared with stocks of one vaccine, approved for children under 12 months, extremely low.

With three confirmed cases in Hobart in the past fortnight, pharmacies and GPs are inundated with requests from parents to get their children jabbed.

There are two vaccines against meningococcal: one for the B strain and one that protects against the A, C, W and Y types.

While the ACWY strain is given to infants and teens under a sponsored program, parents have to seek out the B strain vaccine — and pay the full cost.

From July 1, the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine for strains A, C, W and Y replaced the meningococcal C vaccine as part of the National Immunisation Program for all children aged 12 months.

All Tasmanian teenagers born between August 1, 1997, and April 30, 2003. are eligible for a free meningococcal W vaccine through their GP.

Pharmacy Guild of Tasmania acting president Madeleine Bowerman said Menveo was the preferred brand for immunising the ACWY strain for those under 12 months but older than six weeks.

“Menveo is preferred for younger ones but we can substitute that for Nimenrix, which is available,” she said. “Nimenrix can be used via private prescription for under 12 months.”

Mrs Bowerman said the strain B vaccine was also running low but resupply was eminent.

“Supply has been sporadic for the B vaccine,” she said. “Wholesalers should be in stock this week so more should be available again soon.”

There are growing calls from families of survivors and victims of the disease to add the strain B vaccination to the national Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which would make it more affordable.

A spokesman for federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said any expansion to the current scheme would be a matter for expert advice.

“At the moment this vaccine is subject to trials and once completed will be presented to the medical experts to review and make a recommendation to government,” he said.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee is the independent body that recommends new medicines for listing on the PBS.

Meningococcal Australia’s Eliza Ault-Connell said PBAC wants to know if the B vaccine would not just protect the person being immunised but stop the carriage of the disease.

“With this information they will hopefully be able to use that in the next PBAC submission,” she said.