Federal government offers teens free meningococcal vaccine from next year

From next year, teenagers across Australia will be able to get a free vaccine to protect them against four strains of the potentially deadly meningococcal disease.

Daktari atoa chanjo ndani ya zahanati mjini Canberra Source: AAP

The Federal Government has announced a plan expected to reach about a million Australians between the ages of 14 and 19 in the next four years.

The Federal Government is under pressure to list a vaccine for the B strain , but the vaccine cannot be listed until it has earned the recommendation of an expert committee. The company that makes the vaccine has been urged to seek a listing on the National Immunisation Program.

Last month, ((Aug)) the company said it would consider doing so after it sees the results of South Australia's impact with the vaccine next year.