Qld to offer free meningococcal vaccine

More than 300,000 Queensland teenagers will be offered a free meningococcal vaccine this year to target the rise in the W strain of the disease.

Queensland has become the fourth state to offer teenagers a free meningococcal vaccination to combat the rise in the W strain of the potentially fatal disease.

Health Minister Cameron Dick announced on Sunday more than 300,000 teenagers aged between 15 and 19 will have access to the vaccination, which will be rolled out through schools from mid-April.

The vaccination program, which will cost Queensland taxpayers $6 million, will also be offered this year in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia.