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Questions and Answers National Meningococcal C Vaccination Program

Meningococcal disease - the symtoms
Q. What is the National Meningococcal C Vaccination Program?
Q. What is meningococcal disease?
Q. How is it spread?
Q. How easy is it to catch?
Q. Who is most at risk?
Q. What should you do if symptoms occur?
Q. How is it treated?
Q. How can I protect my child?
Q. Does the vaccine have any side effects?

Meningococcal disease - the symtoms

A person showing the early signs of meningococcal disease might not have all of these symptoms, and they might not all show at once:

• Sudden onset of fever
• Severe headache
• Drowsiness, confusion or coma
• Neck stiffness, joint pains
• Rash of red-purple spots or bruises
• Dislike of bright lights
• Vomiting

Additional signs to look for in babies are:

• Fretfulness
• High-pitched moaning cry
• Difficulty in waking baby
• Refusal to eat
• Pale or blotchy skin.

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Q. What is the National Meningococcal C Vaccination Program?

A. Over the next four years, as part of a comprehensive Commonwealth Government response to reducing the impact of meningococcal C disease on the community, the National Meningococcal C Vaccination Program will provide free meningococcal C vaccine to children and young adults who turned 1 to 19 years of age in 2003. This will be one of the largest vaccinationprograms ever seen in Australia.
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Q. What is meningococcal disease?

A. It is an uncommon life-threatening infection caused by bacteria that live at the back of the throat or in the nose in about 10% of the community at any given time. Although most people who carry these bacteria remain well, they can spread them to others, who in some cases can become very ill.
 
Meningococcal disease can occur at any time of the year but more often during winter and spring. There are different strains of meningococcal disease, with strains B and C the most common in Australia. Meningococcal C disease accounts for more than half of all meningococcal deaths in Australia.
 
The vaccines used in the National Meningococcal C Vaccination Program only protect against meningococcal C disease.
 

There are other strains of meningococcal infection (eg caused by the B strain) that are not covered by this vaccine. At this time, there has been no effective vaccine developed for meningococcal B disease in Australia. It is important to remain alert for symptoms of meningococcal disease. Urgent medical attention should be sought if symptoms occur.

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Q. How is it spread?

A. The bacteria are spread in droplets shed from the nose or throat through coughing, sneezing and spluttering.

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Q. How easy is it to catch?

A. Although the bacteria are spread through the droplets, it is not easy to become infected. This is because the bacteria do not survive long outside of the body.

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Q. Who is most at risk?

A. Meningococcal disease can occur at any age. High risk groups include children under 5 years of age and 15 to 19 year olds.

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Q. What should you do if symptoms occur?

A. See your doctor immediately or go straight to the nearest hospital emergency department. The diagnosis is not always easy to make in the beginning, so if the person is sent home by the doctor or hospital and the symptoms get worse or don't improve, take the person straight back to the nearest hospital.

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Q. How is it treated?

A. People with symptoms are treated in hospital with antibiotics. Early treatment with antibiotics is the key to saving someone's life.

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Q. How can I protect my child?

A. There are some precautions you can take to try and prevent the disease in your child.

  1. Have your child vaccinated against meningococcal C disease, as the vaccine provides over 90% protection against meningococcal C disease.
  2. Children of parents who smoke are at a greater risk of contracting meningococcal disease. For help to quit smoking call the Quitline on 131 848, talk to your doctor or pharmacist or visit www.quitnow.info.au.
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Q. Does the vaccine have any side effects?

A. The meningococcal C vaccine is very safe. It does not contain live bacteria and cannot cause meningococcal disease in your child. There are some mild side effects that your child might experience. The most common are pain, redness and swelling at the site of injection, fever, irritability, decreased appetite and headaches. These side effects should only last for a short period of time. More serious side effects are very rare. As always, you should discuss potential side effects with your immunisation provider prior to vaccination.
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This web page is managed and authorised by AIDS & Infectious Diseases of Centre for Health Protection of the NSW Department of Health. Last updated: 31 March, 2009

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