Vaccine tests to delay free B-strain jabs
A POTENTIALLY life-saving meningococcal B vaccine is unlikely to become free to people across Australia this year.
The Federal Government has been under pressure to list the vaccine on the National Immunisation Program, which distributes free vaccines, after a 16year-old Sarah Beltz died from the disease in Hobart in July.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Tuesday the change could not occur until the vaccine earned the recommendation of an expert committee. He has urged the company that makes the vaccine, GlaxoSmithKline, to have another attempt at becoming listed on the program.
The company yesterday confirmed it would consider the move but only after it had the results of a South Australian study on the impact of the vaccine, Bexsero, on meningococcal B immunity.
It’s also awaiting data on the effect of the vaccine being offered free in the United Kingdom, with research results due next year. GlaxoSmithKline said the research was necessary to sway the pharmaceutical benefits advisory committee in its favour.
It has been knocked back by the committee three times, most recently in mid-2015, with the authority requesting more information.
“At this stage, without the results of this additional research, a resubmission is unlikely to be successful,” a company spokeswoman said.
Among those who have been campaigning for the vaccine to be free is Tasmanian Erica Burleigh, 34, who became legally blind after contracting meningococcal B almost two decades ago.
She met Mr Turnbull and Health Minister Greg Hunt on Tuesday and said despite the hurdles to the vaccine becoming free, she was pleased to hear the Government was working with peak health groups to roll out a program to help educate doctors about meningococcal. Ms Burleigh said Sarah’s death had made her feel as if little had changed since a doctor told her she had the flu when she was 17.
The quad-strain meningococcal ACWY vaccine was added to the immunisation program this year. Free vaccines will be offered to people aged between six weeks and 21 years at the Derwent Entertainment Centre this weekend.