The Australian Government makes some vaccines free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious infection. It usually causes meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord) and/or sepsis.
Meningococcal bacteria are passed between people in the saliva from the nose and throat. This generally requires close and long contact with a person carrying the bacteria who is usually completely well. An example of ‘close and long contact’ is living in the same household or deep kissing. Meningococcal bacteria do not spread easily and do not live long outside the body.
Vaccines help your immune system fight infections. If a vaccinated person gets exposed to these infections, their
One dose of the meningococcal ACWY vaccine is very effective against four types of meningococcal disease (types A, C, W and Y). It does not protect against type B disease.
All Year 10 students 14 years and older in secondary schools and/or those aged 15-19 should get this vaccine to protect against meningococcal types A, C, W, and Y.
Meningococcal ACWY vaccine should not be given to people who:
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can cause unconsciousness or death if not treated quickly. It is very rare after vaccines. Immunisation providers are trained to treat anaphylaxis.
The meningococcal ACWY vaccine has been offered to children aged 12 months since July 2018. Your child may have had a meningococcal C vaccine before. That vaccine only protects against meningococcal C disease.
This vaccine is also recommended for people planning travel involving a greater risk of exposure to meningococcal disease, including the Hajj. The vaccine is also recommended for certain occupations, such as microbiology laboratory staff, and for people with certain medical conditions, such as not having a spleen.
Side effects are usually mild. They may include:
No. A student who is pregnant or thinks she might be should not get the vaccine.
If your child missed their vaccination at school, arrange a catch-up as soon as possible. Some schools will offer catch up clinics. If not, contact your GP or pharmacist to arrange the vaccination.
The information on the Consent Form is kept private under NSW and Commonwealth laws. It will be added to the NSW Health immunisation register and the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). This helps link it to your child’s immunisation history, which can be viewed on MyGov.
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