FREE JABS FOR EVERY CHILD

Vaccine offer to those under 21

EVERY Tasmanian under the age of 21 will be offered free meningococcal vaccinations in a scheme to be announced today.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson will detail the new policy to inoculate Tasmanians born after August 1, 1997 against the A, C, W and Y strains of the deadly disease. The State Government action follows calls by the Mercury to protect the state’s children after the death of teenage schoolgirl Sarah Rose Beltz. It comes as two more cases of meningococcal were revealed yesterday. There have been five cases since July 12. All but one of those cases have been meningococcal W — the other was the B strain.

A meningococcal B vaccination is not included in the new scheme and costs about $130 per child.

ALL Tasmanians under the age of 21 will be eligible for a free vaccination against meningococcal as the State Government rushes to respond to the growing health concern.

It is understood Health Minister Michael Ferguson will today announce that any Tasmanian born after August 1, 1997 will be able to receive the vaccine against four strains — A, C, W and Y – of the potentially deadly disease.

It follows a further two cases of meningococcal confirmed in the Hobart area yesterday, taking the total to five over the past two weeks.

A 36-year-old man and another man aged in his 70s were each in a stable condition and were receiving treatment at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Preliminary testing indicated the men had contracted the W strain of the disease.

The cases did not appear to be linked, either to each other or the three other recent cases.

Sixteen-year-old Sarah Rose Beltz died earlier this month after contracting the disease, while a three-monthold baby remains in the Royal in a stable condition.

Mr Ferguson had promised a response and it is understood planning is under way for the extended scheme to kick off in coming weeks.

Vaccination will be offered for free at GP clinics, council clinics and a number of other settings statewide.

Pharmacists will be able to provide the vaccine to children aged 10 years and older.

The cost of extending the program is yet to be revealed.

Preliminary testing indicates four people contracted the W strain of the disease, including Ms Beltz.

One case of meningococcal B has been confirmed, with the person released from hospital.

Health authorities will continue to monitor the situation before any decision on including the costly B strain vaccination.

Last year, in response to an increase in meningococcal W cases, the Tasmanian Government intervened with an ACWY immunisation program targeting 15-19-year- olds. From July 1 the meningococcal ACWY vaccine was included in the National Immunisation Program as a routine vaccine at age 12 months.

“Public Health is taking an appropriate and responsible approach to dealing with cases of meningococcal in Tasmania and the Government is committed to expanding our state-funded program on the competent advice of the director,” Mr Ferguson said in a statement yesterday.

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said close contacts of the latest sufferers were receiving antibiotics as a precaution.

“People should remain vigilant for meningococcal disease symptoms, and if they suspect they or someone they care for may have contracted meningococcal disease, they should seek emergency medical care immediately,” Dr Veitch said.

Tasmania has reached its average of around five meningococcal cases a year in the past two weeks.

Last year, there were 16 confirmed cases.