A combination vaccine that protects against four strains of potentially deadly meningococcal disease has been approved for use in young infants in Australia.
Sunday Night shared the story of Little Jenna and her fight against meningococcal.
Jenna and her big sister, Amelia, were both immunised but that wasn’t enough to stop other strains of the deadly disease from nearly taking her life.
She fell victim to the lesser-known B strain that requires an expensive vaccine and is only available on the private market and not subsidised by the Federal Government.
Doctors were forced to amputate her right arm below the elbow, all the fingers of her left hand, all the toes on her right foot and one kneecap.
But in a major shake-up of the nation’s vaccination schedule, cases like Jenna’s could soon be a thing of the past.
Under a potential new scheme being brokered by the federal government and the country’s pharmaceutical giants, all Australian children could soon be immunised against every strain of the deadly meningococcal disease.
UPDATE 12 September
A combination vaccine that protects against four strains of potentially deadly meningococcal disease has been approved for use in young infants in Australia, reports 9 news.
Vaccine MENVEO provides immunity to strains A, C, W and Y and was approved for use in babies from the age of two months by the Therapeutics Goods Administration, pharmaceutical company GSK announced on Tuesday.
Professor Robert Booy an infectious diseases expert at Sydney University says while meningoccoccal disease is rare infants under the age of one are at greatest risk and vaccination should be encouraged.
“Notifications of meningococcal disease usually peaks in late winter and early spring, so today’s announcement is timely and gives parents a TGA-approved combination ACWY vaccine option to help protect their babies from this potentially devastating condition.”
“Protection against multiple strains is important, as the most common strains can change over time,” added Professor Booy.
It is believed all Australian children would receive free immunisations against the four deadly strains of meningococcal in one vaccination.
No further details at this time. We will update asap!
“By the time I got there, she was covered from head to toe.” See litte Jenna’s incredible story here https://t.co/w2ATTlfx1r #SN7 pic.twitter.com/lf5xQrqnqi
— sunday night (@sundaynighton7) September 3, 2017
NEXT: After 30 operations, little Jenna showed doctors and her family she is a fighter https://t.co/DGZTnj8Wsd #SN7 pic.twitter.com/6azVcBjTiq
— sunday night (@sundaynighton7) September 3, 2017
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