Free Meningococcal B vaccine will save lives

Transcript: AMA Queensland President, Dr Maria Boulton, Vice President, Dr Nick Yim and Michelle Ford Russ, SCA, Wednesday 20 March 2024

Subjects: Meningococcal B vaccine

DAN MCCRAY: So, tell us, how has the free rollout of the Meningococcal B vaccine been?

DR MARIA BOULTON: It's going really well, and we really commend the State Government for making this accessible to more people. We've seen almost 18,000 Meningococcal B vaccines being given since the rollout began on 1 March. More than half of them have been given at general practice.

DAN MCCRAY: Have you been busy here in Brisbane?

DR MARIA BOULTON: We're always busy in general practice, but we've certainly seen a really good uptake and a lot of very appreciative parents. Parents, who perhaps wouldn't be able to afford it before this, say how good it is for them to be able to access it for their children.

DAN MCCRAY: Why is Meningococcal B so important and why has it not been recognised beforehand?

DR MARIA BOULTON: Meningitis is quite a severe disease and there are many causes of it; bacterial, viral, parasites, and we know that the B bacterial Meningitis strain is something that is more prevalent in Brisbane than any other strain, and that's why it's really important.

Why it hasn't been funded before, I'm sure it's all about costs for the government, and that is why it's really good to see the Queensland Government step up and fund it. We would like to see it rolled across the entire country, but that will be dependent on the Commonwealth Government.

DAN MCCRAY: Is it more prominent in Brisbane because this vaccine hasn’t been rolled out for free before, do you think?

DR MARIA BOULTON: No, there's only one other state where this vaccine is available for free and that's South Australia. It's just the way it is - the B strain is more prevalent in Brisbane. We do have a free vaccine for four other strains, so A, C, W and Y, but for some reason it seems that the B strain is the most prevalent, which is why it's really important for parents to have a chat to their GP and to check the immunisation register to see whether their kids have had it or not. If they think they haven't had it, they need to make a booking to have it.

DAN MCCRAY: Can you talk me through why it is so important for this age group in particular to get this vaccine?

DR MARIA BOULTON: The people that are more at risk of Meningococcal B are infants and the adolescent group, and that's because they tend to be in close quarters, and they tend to share saliva and that's why it spreads.

DAN MCCRAY: There's a lot of vaccine hesitancy around at the moment. What would you say to people who are maybe thinking twice about getting this particular vaccine?

DR MARIA BOULTON: Meningitis is a very serious disease and by the time you're diagnosed with it, it's quite advanced. That's why it's really important that if you can prevent it, if you can prevent anyone from getting sick, it is much better, because it is such a serious disease. These vaccines have been around for quite some time now, so we know what the side effects are, and we know that they work really well at reducing the prevalence of this disease.

DAN MCCRAY: Logistically, we know it's free, but do we just book in to the GP clinic?

DR MARIA BOULTON: Absolutely. We've been doing Meningococcal B vaccines for years now. With the free rollout, which was commenced on 1 March this year, we've seen an uptick in people wanting this vaccine. But this is what we do day in, day out in general practice. So, if you can make an appointment, online or by phone, just with your GP and your GP practice nurse, the vaccine is readily accessible.

DAN MCCRAY: Is there a time that people should be getting it or is there a timeframe on this free rollout?

DR MARIA BOULTON: We don't know that there's a limit to it, so we hope that this continues.

DAN MCCRAY: The Queensland Government does have a pill testing site now. It's going to be at just one festival in the Southern Downs. What's AMA Queensland’s stance on pill testing?

DR MARIA BOULTON: We absolutely welcome it. It's a way to reduce harm and it was one of the proposals that we made through our drug law reform projects last year. So, we certainly have been looking forward to this news and we certainly welcome it.

DAN MCCRAY: Is it just another arm of preventative healthcare?

DR MARIA BOULTON: Absolutely, and the more the better, but it's just part of the bigger work that's going on around drug law reform.

DAN MCCRAY: And it is not just for party drugs, right? Would you support pill testing for all sorts of drugs, something like getting a diet pill off the internet?

DR MARIA BOULTON: I don't know that people should be accessing medications off the internet anyway, so I don't know that that is something that we would recommend to start with.

DAN MCCRAY: Thank you.

DAN MCCRAY: Dr Yim, you are from Hervey Bay. How's the rollout been in your area?

DR NICK YIM: In regional towns such as Hervey Bay, it's been really positive for the management, vaccination and uptake. We have parents coming in asking for the vaccination. It's really positive to see the parents take the support.

DAN MCCRAY: So, tell us, have you been booked out? Is it people calling up and asking for that specifically or is it people that you are seeing and then you're recommending?

DR NICK YIM: In my practice, we have been recommending parents who are already coming in to take that vaccination because it is free now, it is subsidised by the Queensland state. Previously, it was quite cost prohibitive, especially in regional towns where cost of living is rising as well.

DAN MCCRAY: How's access been in those regional areas?

DR NICK YIM: Access has been pretty good. Obviously, we do encourage parents to call their GP practice. They can book in with their GP and practice nurses to have that immunisation, or if there's a bit of apprehension, to have that conversation with their general practitioner. It is really important for them to take up that vaccination.

DAN MCCRAY: Do you know anything about the very remote areas getting access to this service as well? Or do people have to come into centres?

DR NICK YIM: So, for those in remote areas and rural areas, they do have access to the immunisations. They might take a little bit of additional time to get out there, but there should be access moving through pretty quickly.

DAN MCCRAY: So, for example, if somebody's in Mount Isa and they'd like to get this, is the best thing for them to do to call their local GP clinic and inform them beforehand?

DR NICK YIM: We haven't heard of any access issues in Mount Isa, but the first thing is to give their general practitioner a call to ensure that they do have stock and I'm pretty confident there is stock available.

I think the key thing in regional towns is that Meningococcal B is a common strain we are seeing. Currently the National Immunisation Program is only covering four strains, the B strain hasn't been covered. So, it's important for parents to have that conversation with their general practitioner to see if they can access that immunisation, which is a great benefit to Queenslanders.

DAN MCCRAY: Obviously you've brought your son in to get this meningococcal B vaccine. Why was that important to you?

MICHELLE FORD RUSS: Growing up, we had a family friend pass away from this dreadful disease, and if there was ever any way to avoid our child getting meningococcal B, then we would take it, happily. Seeing what their family went through, I just wouldn't wish it on anybody. Absolutely, if there's a way to avoid this, then get the vaccine.

DAN MCCRAY: You've got that personal connection to it. Were you delighted when you heard there was going to be a free rollout?

MICHELLE FORD RUSS: Absolutely. There was no vaccine available when Clayton passed away, and his parents are delighted that there is a vaccine now available, so that nobody has to go through what they went through.

DAN MCCRAY: Talking to other parents around the place, is Meningococcal something that is discussed or known about, or do you think it's one of the lesser known ones?

MICHELLE FORD RUSS: Absolutely not. It is a deadly disease that so many people don't know anything about, unless they've known someone affected by it. It absolutely needs to be brought to people's attention.

DAN MCCRAY: There's quite a bit of nuance between those four strains and Meningococcal B as well, which you might think you've covered as well.

MICHELLE FORD RUSS: Absolutely. There is confusion as to which vaccines children have had and which they haven't had. This is definitely one you need to make sure that your child has had.

DAN MCCRAY: Would you be encouraging parents to come get it then?

MICHELLE FORD RUSS: Absolutely. I would encourage every parent to get this vaccination for their kid as soon as possible.