Vaccinations

There are a number of  vaccines available that will protect against some of the different types of meningitis.  However there is no vaccine, which will protect against all of the types of meningitis.  Consequently you need to know the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia and remain viligant.

Currently there are vaccines for Hib, meningococcal and pneumococcal disease.  Children who attend day care and preschool are at greater risk of contracting bacterial meningitis. Encourage your day care centre or preschool to ensure that all children there have had Hib, Pneumococcal and Meningococcal C immunisations, as well as the standard childhood immunisation series.

Vaccines to protect infants and young children against what used to be the most common form of bacterial meningitis (Hib meningitis) are now part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule in Australia. As a result there has been a sharp fall in the number of cases of Hib since 1992 with more than 95% of cases eliminated. This doesn’t mean that parents shouldn’t be concerned about meningitis anymore. Hib is only one of the many forms of meningitis.

Meningococcal Vaccines

There are vaccines available against different types of meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease includes meningitis and septicaemia.  Occasionally the meningococcal bacteria cause infections in other parts of the body.

There are conjugate and polysaccharide meningococcal vaccines available.  There is a vaccine available in Australia against group C meningococcal bacteria but not against group B meningococcal bacteria. 

Meningococcal polysaccharide tetravalent vaccine

The polysaccharide tetravalent meningococcal vaccine covers four of the seven common strains of meningococcal bacteria and is available for use in epidemics.  The vaccine covers meningococcal (A, C, W135 and Y).  The vaccine only gives protection for a limited time and is not suitable for rountine use unless the risk of disease is very high (e.g. some people with immune disorder or following removal of the spleen).   A booster dose must be given every three years to maintain immunity to the 4 types of meningococcal bacterial groups, A, C, W135 and Y.  The vacine is also used for people travelling to high risk areas where there are regular outbreaks of Meningococcal A, W135 or Y disease.  High risk areas include Africa, the Middle East and Northern India.  The vaccine  is also a visa requirement for pilgrims travelling to the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The meningococcal tetravalent vaccine is not licensed for use in Australia for children less than two years of age.  Young children have a reduced immune response to the vaccine.

Side effects from the vaccine are usually mild.  People may experience swelling and tenderness at the injection site.  If a reaction to a vaccine is severe or you are concerned about side effects or symptoms following vaccination, contact your doctor or hospital immediately. (1)

Certain people can not receive the vaccine including those who have experienced a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of a vaccine or any of the vaccine components. (2)  There are other reasons, which may affect whether a person may receive a vaccine.  Eligibility for any vaccine should be discussed with a doctor, as a doctor or immunsation provider needs to ascertain whether there are any reasons not to administer a vaccine or to delay administration.

Meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine

The meningococcal conjugate Group C vaccine is a 'long lasting' vaccine against meningococcal Group C disease.The vaccine is only effective against group C meningococc al bacteria, which cause between 15% and 50% of meningococcal infections in Australia, depending on where you live.  There is no vaccine against meningococcal B disease in Australia which is a leading cause of meningococcal infection. Consequently you need to know the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia and remain viligant.

From 2003, the meningococcal C conjugate vaccine has been available for children aged from 12 months to 19-year-old teenagers. A catch up prgramme to cover all eligible children is being conducted until the end of June 2006.  Further information  may also be accessed by consulting your GP or local immunisation clinic, if child is eligible but has not received the vaccine. The vaccine is now part of the rountine immunisation scedule and is given to children at 12 months of age.   Ask your doctor about meningococcal vaccination.

The group C conjugate meningococcal vaccine can be administered from 6 weeks of age.  One dose of the vaccine is required for anyone over 12 months of age. Parents who wish to give the vaccine to their child before they are 12 months of age may consult their doctor about the number of doses required.

The meningococcal C vaccine is not a live vaccine and should confer long term protection against meningococcal C disease.

Serious side effects following the vaccine are rare. Temporary side effects may include, inflammation, redness and soreness at the injection site, irritability, loss of appetite, headache and fever. If a reaction to a vaccine is severe or you are concerned about side effects or symptoms following vaccination, contact your doctor or hospital immediately.(3)

Certain people can not receive the vaccine including those who have experienced a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of a vaccine or any of the vaccine components. (4)  There are other reasons, which affect whether a person may receive a vaccine.  Eligibility for any vaccine should be discussed with a doctor, as a doctor or immunsation provider needs to ascertain whether there are any reasons not to administer a vaccine or to delay administration.

Pneumococcal vaccines

There are two types of vaccine against the most common strains of pneumococcal bacteria.  Pneumococcal bacteria cause a range of  invasive diseases, such as meningitis, pneumonia, septicaemia (blood poisoning) to non invasive disease, such as ottis media (middle ear infections).(5)

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine covers seven different serotypes or strains of the pneumococcal bacteria. These seven strains are responsible for most invasive disease in children under two years of age.

The conjugate pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for children 2 years of age and under and is recommended for high risk infants (e.g. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and for non-Aboriginal children with certain immune or chronic medical conditions.  For further information about eligibility please speak to your doctor), at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.

The vaccine can be given to children from 6 weeks to 9 years of age. 

A number of doses of the vaccine are usually required. The number of doses is dependent on the age of the child when vaccination begins.  Ask you doctor about the vaccine and the number of doses needed.

The pneumococal conjugate vaccine is available free to all children at 2,4 and 6 months of age.

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine will also be available free to all children at 2, 4 and 6 months of age from January 2005.  The vaccine will also be offered to children born from the 1st of January 2003, as part of a catch-up programme.

The National Health and Medical Research Council recommend that all children should be vaccinated at 2,4 and 6 months of age. 

The pneumococcal vaccine is not a live vaccine and should confer long-term protection against the strains of p neumococcal bacteria covered by the vaccine.

Serious side effects following the vaccine are rare.  Temporary side effects may include, inflammation, redness, tenderness and soreness at the injection site, irritability, loss of appetite, headache and fever. If a reaction to a vaccine is severe or you are concerned about side effects or symptoms following vaccination, contact your doctor or hospital immediately.(6)

Certain people can not receive the vaccine including those who have experienced a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of a vaccine or any of the vaccine components. (7)  There are other reasons, which affect whether a person may receive a vaccine.  Eligibility for any vaccine should be discussed with a doctor, as a doctor or immunsation provider needs to ascertain whether there are any reasons not to administer a vaccine or to delay administration.

Pneumococcal poysaccharide vaccine

A polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax) is available which covers 23 of the more common serotypes or strains, which cause pneumococcal disease in older children  and adults. The vaccine is currently part of the Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule (ASVS) for those at high risk of catching the disease. Pneumovax vaccine is recommended for high risk infants, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years or older, non-Aboriginal people aged 65 or older, or anyone with a high risk medical condition (e.g. people with no spleen, people with immune diseases or chronic cardiac, renal or pulmonary diseases* (8). *Please consult your state or territory health department or doctor to confirm eligibility for pneumococcal vaccines.

Pneumovax vaccine  is available free to all Australianians aged 65 years and over, Indigenous persons aged 50 years and over and Indigenous perosns aged 15 to 49 years who have a predisposing medical condition.  Ask your doctor for more informaion about pneumococcal vaccination eligibility.  There may be a consultation fee if you are  vaccinated by your GP.  For those poeople who are "unfunded" but are recommended to have the pneumococcal vaccine the vaccine is subsidised through the Pharmeceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). 

The polysaccahride vacvine gives protection for a limited time and does not provide effective protection in very young children. The polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine is generally used in children and adults older than 2 years of age. Further information and recommendations regarding re-vaccination with the polysaccharide pneumocccal vaccine, may be accessed by consulting your doctor, Immunise Australia or your department of health.

Certain people can not receive the vaccine including those who have experienced a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of a vaccine or any of the vaccine components. (9)  There are other reasons, which affect whether a person may receive a vaccine.  Eligibility for any vaccine should be discussed with a doctor, as a doctor or immunsation provider needs to ascertain whether there are any reasons not to administer a vaccine or to delay administration.

You can also find out more about the Childhood Pneumococcal Immunisation Program by visiting http://immunise.health.gov.au/publications.htm   

Accessing state specific information

Links to health department information in specific states is available at the bottom of each page.  Alternatively contact The Meningitis Centre for state specific fact sheets.

Is there a vaccine for meningitis in Australia?

There are vaccines available that will protect against some of the different types of meningitis. There is no vaccine which will protect against all of the types of meningitis.

VACCINES	PROTECTS AGAINST	AGES	COST
Hib	Haemophilus influenzae type B bacteria	Part of the  routine vaccination schedule	Free
Prevenar (7VPCV)	7 strains of pneumococcal bacteria	The vaccine is licensed for use in children from 6 weeks to 9 years of age. Recommended for children under 2 years old and certain high risk groups.   The vaccine is also recommended  for people at increased risk. These include certain high risk groups, such as Aborginal and Torres Strait Islander children up to 2 years and also other children living in certain regions of Australia*. The vaccine is also free to children with certain medical conditions, which include but may not be restricted to  those children with immune deficiences, problems with their spleens, HIV, renal failure ,diabetes, certain cardiac conditions or chronic lung diseases, Cystic fibrosis, Down's syndrome, or children who have shunts or cochlear implants, infants born less than 28 weeks gestation and premature infants with chronic lung disease.(Information from The Australian Immunisation Handbook 8th edition - 2003 and Department of Health - Western Australia, "Childhood pneumococcal vaccination fact sheet".  Dec 03).  (For further information about eligibility speak to your doctor). The vaccine will be available free to children at 2, 4 and 6 months of age from January 2005.  (*Consult your state or territory Department of Health for further details regarding children who may be eligible who live in certain regions of Australia).	Free to certain groups. Price range per dose may be from $130 - $285.  Average $180 Free from January 2005 for all infants as part of the National Immunisation Program at 2, 4 and 6 months of age
Pneumovax (23 23VPPV)	23 strains of pneumococcal bacteria	Adults 65 years and over.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over.  People at increased risk (eg HIV patients, chronic cardiac, renal or pulmonary disease)	Approx $21.00 As  part of the National Immunisation Program the vaccine is free to all Australian adults 65 years and over, Indigenous persons 50 years and over and Indigenous persons with high risk medical conditions.
Meningtec	Group C meningococcal bacteria	Group C meningococcal vaccine is part of the  routine vaccination schedule. Vaccine administered to children at 12 months.  May be given to infants over 6 weeks old.	Approx $70 - $95 per dose.
Menjugate	Group C meningococcal bacteria	as above	as above
NeisVac-C	Group C meningococcal bacteria	as above	Free as part of the National immunisation schedule at 12 months .
Mencevax	Group A, C, W135, and Y meningococcal bacteria	Approved for use in children over 2 years old, people who travel to high risk areas.  Booster required every 3 years.(10)	Approx $30 - $60 per dose.
Menomune	Group A, C, W135, and Y meningococcal bacteria	Approved for use in children over 2 years old, people who travel to high risk areas.  Booster required every 3 years.	Approx $30 - $60 per dose.

Please consult your doctor, immunisation clinic or health department to discuss the vaccines, access further information and confirm eligibility for vaccines (e.g. whether you are of Aborginial or Torres Strait Islander descent, whether you have any medical conditions or immune deficiences). There may be a consultation fee if you are vaccinated by your GP.

There are a number of reasons why some people may not have a particular vaccine, possible reasons or issues should be discussed with your doctor.  There may also be reasons to delay giving a vaccine. (9)  Please contact Immunise Australia for further information.

Immunise Australia on 1800 671 811 or visit their web site www.immunise.health.gov.au

Information on meningococcal vaccines can be downloaded from http://www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/factsheets.htm

Disclaimer

The Meningitis Centre is a 'not for profit' support organisation based in Australia, not a professional medical authority.  Consequently the text on this web site provides general information  about meningitis and septicaemia, not medical advice and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of the diseases.  Please consult your doctor to discuss the information or if you are concerned someone may be ill.

 References

(1) Public Health Division Department of Health Government of Western Australia. Group C Meningococcal Vaccines (Fact sheet)[online]. August 2002 [cited 23 August 2004].
(2) NHMRC. The Australian Immunisation Handbook. 8th edition ed:Commonwealth of Australia; 2003. The Handbook is available from the  Immunise Australia website.
(3), (4) Public Health Division Department of Health Government of Western Australia. Group C Meningococcal Vaccination (Fact sheet)[online]. 2003 [cited 23 August 2004].  
(5) Roche P. Invasive pneumococcal disease in Australia.CDI 2002;27(4):466 -476.
(6), (7) Public Health Division Department of Health Government of Western Australia. Childhood Pneumococcal Vaccination (Fact sheet)[online]. May 2004 [cited April 2004].
(8), (9) NHMRC. The Australian Immunisation Handbook. 8th edition ed:Commonwealth of Australia; 2003.
(10) Public Health Division Department of Health Government of Western Australia. Meningococcal Disease (Fact sheet)[online]. May 2004 [cited 23 August 2004]. Available from http://www.population.health.wa.gov.au/communicable/resources/Meningococcal%20Disease%20Fact%20Sheet%20May%2004.pdf