Due to an increase in serogroup W disease in Western Australia over the past three years a funded state-wide meningococcal vaccination program for adolescents aged 15 to 19 years started earlier this year.
Eligible teenagers who were no longer at school can receive the vaccine at community health clinics and university student health centres.
The vaccine will also be available at GP clinics from late September.
Southern River College year 12 students were vaccinated at the beginning of August and by the end of November the year 10 and 11 students will also have been vaccinated.
Meningococcal disease was an uncommon, life-threatening illness caused by a bacterial infection of the blood and/or membranes that line the spinal cord and brain and occasionally the throat or large joints.
Incidence of the disease has decreased significantly in WA down from a peak of 86 cases in 2000 to a low of 16 cases in 2013 but now appears to be increasing again due to the emergence of new virulent strains of serogroup W and to a lesser extent serogroup Y – meningococcal bacteria.
Southern River College first aid officer Kim Prescott-Brown said headaches, drowsiness, a dislike of bright lights, chills and shivering, rapid breathing, stiff or painful neck and a rash, which may or may not appear were some of the symptoms to look out for.
“It can affect all ages,” she said.
“Early detection and early treatment saves lives.”
Ms Prescott-Brown warned not to wait for the rash, which might not appear and to act quickly.
The Amanda Young Foundation was passionate about reducing the impact of meningococcal disease and said the best way to achieve this was by vaccination.
Founders Barry and Lorraine Young have urged students to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated.
Mr Young said the recent arrival of the W strain of meningococcal in WA was a real cause for concern.
“It is a particularly nasty variety,” he said.
“It is very quick and potentially has lethal consequences.”
For more information about the vaccine visit healthywa.wa.gov.au.
