Doctors have called for a free meningococcal B vaccine program to be made available for WA children.
The RACGP says the State faces a huge gap in immunisation coverage for the disease, leaving children and young people vulnerable.
It follows a recent Meningitis Centre Australia Meningococcal B Memory Tree event, at which the WA Liberal Party committed to funding a vaccine program should the party be elected this year.
More than 3,000 parents signed a petition calling for free vaccinations.
RACGP vice president and WA chair Dr Ramya Raman said families across the State have delivered a clear message.
“The college is backing those calls for a free meningococcal B vaccine for children two years and under and adolescents aged 15 to 19. We know that this vaccine is safe and effective – it’s the best protection against this deadly disease,” she said.
“Making this vaccine free for kids and at-risk age groups will save lives.
“As things stand, Western Australia faces a huge gap in immunisation coverage against meningococcal B, leaving babies, adolescents and young adults vulnerable to this preventable disease.”
Meningococcal B vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program for children aged two months or older with certain medical conditions. It is also offered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged two months, four months, six months and 12 months.
Parents of children not covered by the Immunisation Handbook face upfront costs for vaccinations. The College said this could be up to $200 per dose.
Even with early diagnosis and treatment, 5-10% of patients with meningococcal B die within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms and 10-20% of survivors are left with brain damage, hearing loss or learning difficulties, according to the World Health Organisation.
In WA vaccination rates of children have fallen over the last decade. Latest data show only 89.6% of children under two in the State are up to date with their scheduled vaccines, below the national benchmark of 95%.
As a result, vaccine preventable diseases are on the rise. According to the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard there have been 6,305 cases of vaccine preventable diseases recorded in WA this year, an increase from the 3,759 recorded in 2014.
There have been 13 cases of meningococcal in the State this year.
WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam said the vaccination program would align with the existing program for Meningococcal ACWY strain.
“We will reduce the prevalence of this devastating disease, prevent deaths, and decrease the financial and emotional burden of long-term care for survivors,” she said.
Health minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the State government was monitoring cases closely.
“This disease affects all states and territories and deserves a national approach,” she said.
Separately, the Immunisation Foundation of Australia has urged the Federal Government to prioritise the rollout of a newer, broader coverage pneumococcal vaccine as rates of the disease hit a 20-year high.
More than 4,500 cases of severe pneumococcal, known as invasive pneumococcal disease, have been recorded in the last 24 months – the highest rate of diagnoses since 2002 – National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance Data show.
The Foundation said evolving strains, declining vaccination rates and antibiotic resistance were driving the surge in cases, warning more are likely to be seen in 2025.
Paediatrician and Infectious Disease Researcher at UWA Professor Peter Richmond said invasive pneumococcal disease was just the tip of the iceberg.
“For every confirmed case of invasive pneumococcal disease, there are hundreds of non-invasive infections such as bronchitis, sinusitis and middle ear infections that we don’t record and which leave children and the elderly suffering,” he said.