Queenslanders urged to vaccinate against meningococcal as children at risk of potentially deadly disease

Queenslanders are being urged to protect their families from meningococcal disease, with an alarming 392,000 young people in the state unvaccinated against the potentially deadly disease.

The warning comes as health authorities work to control an outbreak in the state’s far north, where the Tropical Public Health Services is investigating a third probable case of meningococcal B.

Fewer than 66 per cent of children aged up to two years old have been fully immunised, leaving about 40,000 eligible children unvaccinated, according to Australian Immunisation Register data.

Another 386,000 eligible adolescents are also unvaccinated, with just under 14 per cent of 15 to 20-year-olds protected against the disease.

Health experts warn the disease can take hold very quickly and it can be fatal.

Even with antibiotic treatment, invasive meningococcal disease causes death in about 5 to 10 per cent of cases, according to the health department.

“It can kill within hours, so early diagnosis and treatment is vital,” it states.

Among the cases is a five-month-old baby fighting for life in Townsville University Hospital.

He was initially taken to a hospital in Cairns before being airlifted to Townsville on Sunday, according to Townsville’s public health unit director Stephen Donahue said.

He said the “extremely sick” child was suffering “sepsis, low blood pressure (and) poor circulation”, and was also “in shock”.

“Our doctors think this is a case of meningococcal bacteremia, or sepsis,” Donahue said.

“Meningococcal is a feared disease because this germ can kill you in 12 hours.

“It’s terrifying.

“This is why it’s so important to vaccinate because this can be a very serious illness, and this is a very sick child.”

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said the outbreak in Cairns was a sobering reminder of the need to get vaccinated.

“Even in well-vaccinated populations, outbreaks of diseases can occur, highlighting the critical importance of vaccination in protecting public health,” he told The Courier Mail.

“The current influenza season in Queensland may have contributed to the outbreak as we know that influenza can increase the risk of IMD.

“As influenza cases decline in Queensland, I hope to see a corresponding decrease in IMD cases.”

Royal Australian College of GPs Queensland chair Dr Cathryn Hester said getting vaccinated was the best way families could protect themselves from the deadly disease.

“Meningococcal disease is a very serious infection that can cause severe scarring, loss of limbs, brain damage and death — the outbreak in Far North Queensland is very concerning,” she said.

“I urge Queensland families to book in for their vaccine with their GP right away and get protected against this deadly disease.

“And if you have any questions about the vaccine, be sure to ask your GP — we are here to help.”

Under the government’s meningococcal B vaccination program, infants six weeks to less than 12 months of age and adolescents aged 15 to less than 19 are eligible for the free vaccine.

Catch-up immunisation is also free for children aged 12 months to less than two years old who have not started or completed immunisation with the Bexsero vaccine.