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Meningococcal vaccinations

Protect yourself against meningococcal and book your vaccination at participating Blooms The Chemist pharmacies today.

Meningococcal vaccinations

Protect yourself against meningococcal and book your vaccination at participating Blooms The Chemist pharmacies today.

Meningococcal vaccinations

Protect yourself against meningococcal and book your vaccination at participating Blooms The Chemist pharmacies today.

Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacteria known as Neisseria meningitidis and can be fatal if left untreated.

Meningococcal disease is commonly caused by the serogroups A, B, C, W and Y.  

 

In a small number of people, meningococcal bacteria can enter the bloodstream, causing Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). IMD can develop quickly and causes death in about 5 to 10% of cases. 

 

Meningococcal B disease is the most common cause of invasive meningococcal disease in children, adolescents and young adults. 

 

Please do not wait until there is a purple rash on your body as this is the late stage of IMD. Visit your doctor at once if you think you or a loved one have meningococcal. If your doctor is unavailable, please visit the emergency room at your closest hospital for treatment. 

Meningococcal is contagious and can be fatal, killing within hours of getting the disease1.

The most common types of meningococcal bacteria in Australia are B, W and Y1.

Meningococcal often requires intensive care support and can be treated with intravenous antibiotics1.

Vaccination is your best protection against meningococcal disease.  

 

You can learn more about the Meningococcal vaccinations we offer at participating Blooms The Chemist pharmacies below*. 

 

*Minimum age restrictions apply. Speak to your Pharmacist about the minimum age for child vaccinations. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (parent or guardian must bring photo ID as proof of guardianship).

 

1Healthdirect, Meningococcal disease, accessed 6 February 2023

Meningococcal FAQs

What is meningococcal?

Meningococcal disease is any invasive infection that’s been caused by meningococcal bacteria (known as Neisseria meningitidis)1.

 

Meningococcal is uncommon, but can be very serious. There are 13 strains or serogroups of meningococcal, but the vaccines protect you against the A, B, W and Y strains from Blooms The Chemist.


1Better Health Victoria, Meningococcal disease – immunisation, accessed 6 February 2023

What are the symptoms of meningococcal disease?

The main symptoms of meningococcal disease are1:

 

  • A rash of red or purple pinprick spots that do not turn skin coloured when you press on it with a finger

  • Headache

  • Fever

  • Neck stiffness

  • Drowsiness and confusion

 

The symptoms are different in babies and young children, which are:

 

  • Refusing food

  • Being very tired and floppy

  • Having a high moaning cry

  • Being fretful or irritable

 

The symptoms above are not every possible sign and symptom of meningococcal disease, and some symptoms may not appear at all.

 

In severe cases, meningococcal bacteria can invade the bloodstream and cause sepsis (a blood infection) or meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around your brain and spinal cord). However, most severe cases occur in children under the age of five, but can still happen in people of any age.


1Healthdirect, Meningococcal disease, accessed 6 February 2023

How is meningococcal spread?

Meningococcal bacteria is not easily spread from person to person, as the bacteria doesn’t survive for long outside of the human body1.

 

However, the bacteria that’s passed between people can be passed through close and prolonged contact (including kissing or living in the same household).

 

Meningococcal bacteria are not easily spread by sharing drinks, food or cigarettes.


1NSW Health, Meningococcal disease fact sheet, accessed 6 February 2023

How do I get diagnosed with meningococcal?

You can be diagnosed with meningococcal after you visit your doctor and they do an examination1. If a doctor suspects meningococcal disease, they will collect samples of blood or cerebrospinal fluid (fluid near the spinal cord). Doctors then send the samples to a laboratory for testing.

 

It is vital to get a diagnosis of meningococcal as soon as possible so that treatment can be started.


1Healthdirect, Meningococcal disease, accessed 6 February 2023

How is meningococcal treated?

After a diagnosis of meningococcal disease has been made, it’s treated with intravenous antibiotics in hospital and usually requires intensive care support1.

 

1Healthdirect, Meningococcal disease, accessed 6 February 2023

Meningococcal (ACWY) Vaccine FAQS

What is the meningococcal (ACWY) vaccine?

The meningococcal vaccine is the best protection available against meningococcal disease, but there is no single vaccine that protects you against all types of meningococcal1.

 

You may need one to four doses, depending on the type of vaccine you get.


1Department of Health and Aged Care, Meningococcal vaccine, accessed 6 February 2023

Why does the meningococcal vaccine have ACWY after it?

There are two types of meningococcal vaccinations available, which focus on different strains of meningococcal disease. They are1:

 

  • Meningococcal ACWY, which provides protection against serogroups A, C, W and Y

  • Meningococcal B, which provides protection against serogroup B

 

The reason the meningococcal vaccine that we offer has the ACWY after it is so that you know what strains of meningococcal disease you are being vaccinated from.

 

If you want to be vaccinated for both meningococcal ACWY and B, please speak to your doctor.


1NSW Health, Meningococcal disease fact sheet, accessed 6 February 2023

What are some common side effects of the meningococcal (ACWY) vaccine?

Some common side effects of the vaccine include1:

 

  • Pain, redness and swelling at the injection side

  • Fever

  • Feeling unsettled or tired

  • Decreased appetite

  • Headaches

 

1Healthdirect, Meningococcal disease, accessed 6 February 2023

Is it recommended that I get the meningococcal (ACWY) vaccine?

The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends the meningococcal vaccine for a range of people, including1:

 

  • Infants

  • All infants and young children, especially those aged less than two years old

  • Adolescents aged 15 to 19 years old

  • People who smoke and are aged 15 to 24 years old

  • People who have close household contact with those who have had meningococcal disease and have not been immunised

  • People who are travelling to places such as sub-Saharan Africa that have epidemics caused by serogroups A, C, W and Y

  • People who work in a laboratory that frequently handle meningococcal bacteria

  • People living with HIV

  • People who have had a haematopoietic stem cell transplant

  • People travelling to mass gatherings, such as pilgrims travelling to the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia as Saudi Arabian authorities require a valid certificate of vaccination to enter the country


1Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Meningococcal disease, accessed 6 February 2023

Is the meningococcal (ACWY) vaccine free for me?

The meningococcal (ACWY) vaccine is free for babies at 12 months, adolescents through a year 10 school vaccination program and people of all ages with certain medical conditions under the National Immunisation Program.

 

If you are eligible for a vaccination under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), you may need to confirm with your selected Blooms The Chemist pharmacy about their NIP vaccine stock availability. Please note that there may be a service fee associated with a NIP vaccination.

 

Meningococcal B Vaccine FAQS

What is the meningococcal B vaccine?

The meningococcal B vaccine protects you against meningococcal strain B1. 

 

If you want to be protected against all disease-causing strains of meningococcal, you should get vaccinated against A, B, C, W and Y serogroups. 

 

Meningococcal B continues to cause most meningococcal disease in Australia. 

 

There is no single vaccine that protects against all meningococcal serogroups. 

 

1Department of Health and Aged Care, Meningococcal vaccine, accessed 11 December 2023 

What are some common side effects of the meningococcal B vaccine?

Some common side effects of the vaccine include1: 

 

  • Pain, redness and swelling at the injection side 

  • Fever 

  • Feeling unsettled or tired 

  • Decreased appetite 

  • Headaches 

 

1Health Direct, Meningococcal disease, accessed 11 December 2023 

Is it recommended that I get the meningococcal B vaccine?

Anyone who wants to protect themselves against meningococcal disease can talk to their health professional about getting vaccinated for meningococcal B. 

 

The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends that specific groups get vaccinated, which you can learn more about here. 

Is the meningococcal B vaccine free for me?

The meningococcal B vaccine is free for the following people under the National Immunisation Program, which include: 

 

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 2 months, 4 months, 6 months (who have eligible medical conditions) and 12 months 

  • People of all ages with asplenia and hyposplenia, complement deficiency and those receiving treatment with eculizumab 

 

If you are eligible for a vaccination under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), you may need to confirm with your selected Blooms The Chemist pharmacy about their NIP vaccine stock availability. Please note that there is a service fee associated with a NIP vaccination. 

Meningococcal C Vaccine FAQS

What is the meningococcal C vaccine?

The meningococcal C vaccine can protect you from the meningococcal C strain of the meningococcal virus1.

 

1Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Meningococcal vaccine, accessed 27 June 2024  

What are some common side effects of the meningococcal C vaccine?

Some common side effects of meningococcal vaccines include1: 

 

  • Loss of apetite 

  • Mild fever 

  • Irritable, crying, unsettled and generally unhappiness 

  • Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site 

 

1Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Meningococcal vaccine, accessed 27 June 2024 

Is it recommended that I get the meningococcal C vaccine?

The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends vaccination for specific groups, including1: 

 

  • Infants, children, adolescents and young adults 

  • Travellers 

  • Young adults who live in close quarters 

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 

  • Laboratory workers who frequently handle Neisseria meningitidis 

 

1Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Meningococcal vaccine, accessed 27 June 2024 

Is the meningococcal C vaccine free for me?

Meningococcal C is not on the National Immunisation Program (NIP), so the vaccine is not free for anyone1.

 

1Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Meningococcal vaccine, accessed 27 June 2024 

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