A grieving mother is urging state governments to provide free vaccines against meningococcal B, a deadly but preventable disease. She hopes to stop other families from suffering the same loss she endured.
Meningococcal B is the most common strain in Australia, responsible for five out of six cases in 2022. The disease is especially dangerous for young children and teenagers, groups most at risk. Yet, families in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, and Western Australia must pay around $270 for the two-dose vaccine.
Without vaccination, meningococcal disease kills about one in ten people infected. Among survivors, one in four suffers permanent disabilities. Studies also show the vaccine may help reduce gonorrhoea cases in teenagers—a serious infection resistant to antibiotics that can cause infertility.
With the NSW budget approaching, Stacey Charter is pleading with state leaders to make the vaccine free. Her 23-year-old son, Brayden, died from the disease just before Christmas in 2022.
“Two hours after I noticed he was unwell, he was convulsing and unresponsive,” Ms. Charter said. Despite rushing him to hospital, Brayden was declared brain-dead that night.
“No parent should endure this pain,” she said. “Brayden’s death was preventable. I urge the Minns government and Health Minister Ryan Park to act now, before another family suffers.”
Currently, the meningococcal B vaccine is free only for First Nations children before their first birthday and for people with certain medical conditions under the national immunisation program. Babies and teens can receive free vaccines under state programs in the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Queensland.
Meningitis Centre Australia calls for NSW to join these states by funding the vaccine. The centre estimates a NSW program would cost about $20 million annually.
“We are heading into peak meningitis season,” said CEO Karen Quick. “NSW must act quickly to protect families.”
The call for free vaccines has support from independent MPs in NSW, opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane, and the Greens party.
A government spokesperson responded that NSW will review the evidence. Official figures show meningococcal B affects about one in 200,000 NSW residents yearly.
The NSW health minister has requested the federal government consider adding the meningococcal B vaccine to the National Immunisation Program.
Across Australia, about 135 people contracted meningococcal disease in 2024, with 46 cases reported so far this year, according to the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard.
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