Vaccine shake- up a shot at fatal four

ALL Australian children would get immunised for free against four deadly strains of meningococcal in one hit under a major shake- up of the vaccination schedule being brokered by the Federal Government and pharmaceutical giants.

Vaccination against the disease is ad hoc across Australia with the Federal Government only funding the jab that protects against C- strain for children at 12 months old.

Under the new scheme being discussed, all children would get free vaccination against the A, C, W and Y strains of the disease under the National Immunisation Program.

A vaccine against those strains is available for free to all Queensland Year 10 students and people aged 15 to 19 years through doctors until May next year.

On the private market, parents can pay to vaccinate their children against the fourstrains from two years old and also pay for a meningococcal B jab.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said he was “quietly optimistic” of progress in the coming months.

“I realise that many people have concerns regarding the various strains of meningococcal,” he said.

Before the vaccines can be funded, the pharmaceutical companies must seek approval from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

“I encourage the pharmaceutical companies developing new vaccines to come forward to the independent committee for consideration,” Mr Hunt said.