Latest news with #NationalImmunisationProgram
The Advertiser
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Heartbroken mum urges free vaccines for deadly disease
A grieving parent is urging states to act quickly and help stop a fatal yet preventable disease by making vaccines free. Meningococcal B is the leading strain of the disease in Australia, accounting for five in six cases in 2022. But families trying to protect key groups - young children and adolescents - need to fork out about $270 for the two-dose vaccine in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. Without it, the disease kills about one in 10 and leaves one-in-four survivors with permanent complications. Research has also found the jab can reduce gonorrhoea cases in teenagers, an antibiotic-resistant infection that can cause infertility. With the NSW budget on the horizon, Stacey Charter pleaded with state leaders to ensure other families do not experience the heartache she felt after losing her son to the fast-moving disease. Days before Christmas in 2022, Stacey noticed her son Brayden was feeling unwell and two hours later she found him convulsing and unresponsive. Despite being rushed to hospital, the 23-year-old was declared brain-dead later that night. "No parent should have to endure what we have," Ms Charter said. "Brayden's death could have been prevented. "That's why I am pleading with the Minns government and (Health Minister) Ryan Park to act before another family is left heartbroken. I simply don't understand why they won't listen." The meningococcal B jab is free for First Nations children before their first birthday and people with certain medical conditions under the national immunisation program But all babies and teens can access it for free under state-funded programs in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. Meningitis Centre Australia said NSW needed to follow suit and make preventative health a priority. It says a NSW program would cost an estimated $20 million per year. "We are on the brink of peak season; we must act now before any other family is impacted," chief executive Karen Quick said. NSW lower-house independent MPs, opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane and the Greens also back the call for free vaccines. A government spokesman said it would respond based on the evidence available, with figures showing only one in every 200,000 NSW residents contracted the disease each year. NSW's health minister had asked federal counterpart Mark Butler to consider including the meningococcal B vaccine in the National Immunisation Program, he said. About 135 Australians contracted all forms of meningococcal disease in 2024, with 46 cases reported this year, the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard shows. A grieving parent is urging states to act quickly and help stop a fatal yet preventable disease by making vaccines free. Meningococcal B is the leading strain of the disease in Australia, accounting for five in six cases in 2022. But families trying to protect key groups - young children and adolescents - need to fork out about $270 for the two-dose vaccine in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. Without it, the disease kills about one in 10 and leaves one-in-four survivors with permanent complications. Research has also found the jab can reduce gonorrhoea cases in teenagers, an antibiotic-resistant infection that can cause infertility. With the NSW budget on the horizon, Stacey Charter pleaded with state leaders to ensure other families do not experience the heartache she felt after losing her son to the fast-moving disease. Days before Christmas in 2022, Stacey noticed her son Brayden was feeling unwell and two hours later she found him convulsing and unresponsive. Despite being rushed to hospital, the 23-year-old was declared brain-dead later that night. "No parent should have to endure what we have," Ms Charter said. "Brayden's death could have been prevented. "That's why I am pleading with the Minns government and (Health Minister) Ryan Park to act before another family is left heartbroken. I simply don't understand why they won't listen." The meningococcal B jab is free for First Nations children before their first birthday and people with certain medical conditions under the national immunisation program But all babies and teens can access it for free under state-funded programs in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. Meningitis Centre Australia said NSW needed to follow suit and make preventative health a priority. It says a NSW program would cost an estimated $20 million per year. "We are on the brink of peak season; we must act now before any other family is impacted," chief executive Karen Quick said. NSW lower-house independent MPs, opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane and the Greens also back the call for free vaccines. A government spokesman said it would respond based on the evidence available, with figures showing only one in every 200,000 NSW residents contracted the disease each year. NSW's health minister had asked federal counterpart Mark Butler to consider including the meningococcal B vaccine in the National Immunisation Program, he said. About 135 Australians contracted all forms of meningococcal disease in 2024, with 46 cases reported this year, the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard shows. A grieving parent is urging states to act quickly and help stop a fatal yet preventable disease by making vaccines free. Meningococcal B is the leading strain of the disease in Australia, accounting for five in six cases in 2022. But families trying to protect key groups - young children and adolescents - need to fork out about $270 for the two-dose vaccine in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. Without it, the disease kills about one in 10 and leaves one-in-four survivors with permanent complications. Research has also found the jab can reduce gonorrhoea cases in teenagers, an antibiotic-resistant infection that can cause infertility. With the NSW budget on the horizon, Stacey Charter pleaded with state leaders to ensure other families do not experience the heartache she felt after losing her son to the fast-moving disease. Days before Christmas in 2022, Stacey noticed her son Brayden was feeling unwell and two hours later she found him convulsing and unresponsive. Despite being rushed to hospital, the 23-year-old was declared brain-dead later that night. "No parent should have to endure what we have," Ms Charter said. "Brayden's death could have been prevented. "That's why I am pleading with the Minns government and (Health Minister) Ryan Park to act before another family is left heartbroken. I simply don't understand why they won't listen." The meningococcal B jab is free for First Nations children before their first birthday and people with certain medical conditions under the national immunisation program But all babies and teens can access it for free under state-funded programs in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. Meningitis Centre Australia said NSW needed to follow suit and make preventative health a priority. It says a NSW program would cost an estimated $20 million per year. "We are on the brink of peak season; we must act now before any other family is impacted," chief executive Karen Quick said. NSW lower-house independent MPs, opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane and the Greens also back the call for free vaccines. A government spokesman said it would respond based on the evidence available, with figures showing only one in every 200,000 NSW residents contracted the disease each year. NSW's health minister had asked federal counterpart Mark Butler to consider including the meningococcal B vaccine in the National Immunisation Program, he said. About 135 Australians contracted all forms of meningococcal disease in 2024, with 46 cases reported this year, the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard shows. A grieving parent is urging states to act quickly and help stop a fatal yet preventable disease by making vaccines free. Meningococcal B is the leading strain of the disease in Australia, accounting for five in six cases in 2022. But families trying to protect key groups - young children and adolescents - need to fork out about $270 for the two-dose vaccine in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. Without it, the disease kills about one in 10 and leaves one-in-four survivors with permanent complications. Research has also found the jab can reduce gonorrhoea cases in teenagers, an antibiotic-resistant infection that can cause infertility. With the NSW budget on the horizon, Stacey Charter pleaded with state leaders to ensure other families do not experience the heartache she felt after losing her son to the fast-moving disease. Days before Christmas in 2022, Stacey noticed her son Brayden was feeling unwell and two hours later she found him convulsing and unresponsive. Despite being rushed to hospital, the 23-year-old was declared brain-dead later that night. "No parent should have to endure what we have," Ms Charter said. "Brayden's death could have been prevented. "That's why I am pleading with the Minns government and (Health Minister) Ryan Park to act before another family is left heartbroken. I simply don't understand why they won't listen." The meningococcal B jab is free for First Nations children before their first birthday and people with certain medical conditions under the national immunisation program But all babies and teens can access it for free under state-funded programs in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. Meningitis Centre Australia said NSW needed to follow suit and make preventative health a priority. It says a NSW program would cost an estimated $20 million per year. "We are on the brink of peak season; we must act now before any other family is impacted," chief executive Karen Quick said. NSW lower-house independent MPs, opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane and the Greens also back the call for free vaccines. A government spokesman said it would respond based on the evidence available, with figures showing only one in every 200,000 NSW residents contracted the disease each year. NSW's health minister had asked federal counterpart Mark Butler to consider including the meningococcal B vaccine in the National Immunisation Program, he said. About 135 Australians contracted all forms of meningococcal disease in 2024, with 46 cases reported this year, the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard shows.
West Australian
11-06-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Heartbroken mum urges free vaccines for deadly disease
A grieving parent is urging states to act quickly and help stop a fatal yet preventable disease by making vaccines free. Meningococcal B is the leading strain of the disease in Australia, accounting for five in six cases in 2022. But families trying to protect key groups - young children and adolescents - need to fork out about $270 for the two-dose vaccine in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. Without it, the disease kills about one in 10 and leaves one-in-four survivors with permanent complications. Research has also found the jab can reduce gonorrhoea cases in teenagers, an antibiotic-resistant infection that can cause infertility. With the NSW budget on the horizon, Stacey Charter pleaded with state leaders to ensure other families do not experience the heartache she felt after losing her son to the fast-moving disease. Days before Christmas in 2022, Stacey noticed her son Brayden was feeling unwell and two hours later she found him convulsing and unresponsive. Despite being rushed to hospital, the 23-year-old was declared brain-dead later that night. "No parent should have to endure what we have," Ms Charter said. "Brayden's death could have been prevented. "That's why I am pleading with the Minns government and (Health Minister) Ryan Park to act before another family is left heartbroken. I simply don't understand why they won't listen." The meningococcal B jab is free for First Nations children before their first birthday and people with certain medical conditions under the national immunisation program But all babies and teens can access it for free under state-funded programs in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. Meningitis Centre Australia said NSW needed to follow suit and make preventative health a priority. It says a NSW program would cost an estimated $20 million per year. "We are on the brink of peak season; we must act now before any other family is impacted," chief executive Karen Quick said. NSW lower-house independent MPs, opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane and the Greens also back the call for free vaccines. A government spokesman said it would respond based on the evidence available, with figures showing only one in every 200,000 NSW residents contracted the disease each year. NSW's health minister had asked federal counterpart Mark Butler to consider including the meningococcal B vaccine in the National Immunisation Program, he said. About 135 Australians contracted all forms of meningococcal disease in 2024, with 46 cases reported this year, the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard shows.
Perth Now
11-06-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Heartbroken mum urges free vaccines for deadly disease
A grieving parent is urging states to act quickly and help stop a fatal yet preventable disease by making vaccines free. Meningococcal B is the leading strain of the disease in Australia, accounting for five in six cases in 2022. But families trying to protect key groups - young children and adolescents - need to fork out about $270 for the two-dose vaccine in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. Without it, the disease kills about one in 10 and leaves one-in-four survivors with permanent complications. Research has also found the jab can reduce gonorrhoea cases in teenagers, an antibiotic-resistant infection that can cause infertility. With the NSW budget on the horizon, Stacey Charter pleaded with state leaders to ensure other families do not experience the heartache she felt after losing her son to the fast-moving disease. Days before Christmas in 2022, Stacey noticed her son Brayden was feeling unwell and two hours later she found him convulsing and unresponsive. Despite being rushed to hospital, the 23-year-old was declared brain-dead later that night. "No parent should have to endure what we have," Ms Charter said. "Brayden's death could have been prevented. "That's why I am pleading with the Minns government and (Health Minister) Ryan Park to act before another family is left heartbroken. I simply don't understand why they won't listen." The meningococcal B jab is free for First Nations children before their first birthday and people with certain medical conditions under the national immunisation program But all babies and teens can access it for free under state-funded programs in Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. Meningitis Centre Australia said NSW needed to follow suit and make preventative health a priority. It says a NSW program would cost an estimated $20 million per year. "We are on the brink of peak season; we must act now before any other family is impacted," chief executive Karen Quick said. NSW lower-house independent MPs, opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane and the Greens also back the call for free vaccines. A government spokesman said it would respond based on the evidence available, with figures showing only one in every 200,000 NSW residents contracted the disease each year. NSW's health minister had asked federal counterpart Mark Butler to consider including the meningococcal B vaccine in the National Immunisation Program, he said. About 135 Australians contracted all forms of meningococcal disease in 2024, with 46 cases reported this year, the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard shows.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Centrelink warning as Aussies risk losing $100 a day: '63-day grace period'
The global measles outbreak is a reminder to us all about the importance of vaccination. We're a third of the way through the year, and Australia has already recorded more than 60 measles cases – almost matching the entire number from last year. So, parents, this is your reminder to check your child's immunisation status today. If you have young children, their immunisation status may impact your Family Tax benefit and Child Care Subsidy Assistance. What does this mean? I'll explain. Centrelink warning over $631 payment: 'A bit dodgy' $6 million cost Coles and Woolworths pay that Aldi refuses to cave on Accountant reveals $37 meal expense the ATO lets workers claim on tax: 'Without a receipt' Failing to immunise your child or not immunising them on time in line with the National Immunisation Program (NIP) childhood schedule can affect your government benefits. To receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS), Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS), or your full income-tested rate of Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A, your child must be up to date with their early childhood vaccinations or on a catch-up schedule to meet immunisation medical exemptions may be granted for valid medical reasons, but personal or philosophical objections will not be considered. An exemption may also be granted in specific instances, including the risk of family violence. There is a 63-day grace period if your child's immunisation is overdue, but after that, CCS will stop and the amount of Family Tax Benefit Part A you get will start reducing by up to $34.44 per fortnight, which is nearly $900 a year, for each child not meeting the immunisation requirements. To put this into perspective, full child care fees can be upwards of $100 per day. The difference between paying full child care fees or having these fees reduced through CCS, in addition to your FTB Part A reduction, may make or break the family bank. Families can use the Payment and Service Finder to find out how much FTB and CCS they could get. In states like New South Wales and South Australia, the 'no jab, no play' legislation means children must be fully immunised or on an approved catch-up schedule to attend child care. In other states and territories, children can attend child care if they're not immunised. However, child care providers have the right to cancel or refuse enrolment based on a child's immunisation status. And if an outbreak occurs, children who are not immunised may be excluded for a period of time. For more information on the different state and territory requirements, head here. You can get your child's immunisation history statement using your Medicare online account through myGov. There's a step-by-step guide on how to do this here. This history statement lists all the immunisations your child has received that have been reported to the Australian Immunisation Register and any that are overdue or will be due soon. You can talk to your health professional to book an appointment or organise catch-up vaccinations. If you don't have a myGov account linked to Medicare, you'll need to set that up first. Alternatively, there are other ways you can access their vaccination information – check the Services Australia website to find out while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data
West Australian
24-04-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Meningococcal disease: Four cases of dangerous bacterial infection confirmed in past week
Four cases of meningococcal have been confirmed in WA in the past week, health authorities say. WA Health said two of these cases are children from the same household, while the other two cases are in adults who have no link to the children or each other. It's renewed calls for the State Government to fund the B strain of the meningococcal vaccine after three of the four new cases were identified as type B, with testing of the fourth case underway. 'All individuals are recovering in hospital,' WA Health said in a statement. Meningococcal disease is uncommon, but can quickly become life-threatening if the bacterial infection gets into the bloodstream or the membranes that line the spinal cord and brain. But it's not easily spread from person to person. The bacterium is in droplets from the nose or throat and is usually spread by coughing or sneezing during close or prolonged contact. While about 10-20 per cent of the population carry the bacteria in the back of the nose or throat at any given time, meningococcal bacteria don't survive more than a few seconds in the environment. Symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease can include high fevers, chills, headaches, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, or severe muscle and joint pain. Authorities say it is harder to detect in very young children, so fever, pale or blotchy complexion, vomiting, lethargy (inactivity), poor feeding and a rash are important signs. There are several strains, or serogroups, of meningococcal. The most common are types A, B, C, W and Y. A combined vaccine for A, C, W and Y strains is free via the National Immunisation Program for all children aged 12-months, but the immunisation to protect against the B strain is not. Aboriginal children can access the MenACWY vaccine as early as six weeks and up to 12-months due to its higher prevalence among the First Nations population. They can also receive the MenB vaccine up to two-years-old. Immunising against MenB is a costly exercise in WA. The jab costs $600 for babies and $400 for teens and is free only for First Nations children and other children with specified conditions. WA campaigners lobbying for the MenB vaccine to be funded by the State Government say the cost of a vaccine program is a fraction of the ongoing costs of the one in four who are left with permanent disability following the disease. 'Meningitis Centre Australia are deeply concerned that despite advocating strongly to WA Government to have Meningococcal B placed on the state immunisation program we continue to see WA cases rise from a vaccine preventable disease,' Meningitis Centre Australia chief executive Karen Quick said. 'The (MenB) vaccine should be in the arms of our most vulnerable protecting our community, not sitting on shelves.' Four of the five cases of meningococcal reported in WA this year have been type B. There were 13 meningococcal cases in WA in 2024, and one death. For more information, visit HealthyWA .
