Meningococcal B program long-term protection

28 June 2023

South Australia’s free Meningococcal B Immunisation Program continues to prove its effectiveness at preventing the illness in high-risk age groups.

A joint study by the Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN) and University of Adelaide, evaluated the program three years since it was implemented.

It found the program has been able to maintain long-term effectiveness against the disease in infants and adolescents. The vaccine was also shown to provide protection against gonorrhoea.

The results showed the program has been key to a 63 per cent reduction in Meningococcal B cases among infants and a 79 per cent drop in cases for adolescents.

It significantly reduced the risk of contracting Meningococcal B disease by 91 per cent in the childhood program and 84 per cent in the adolescent program.

It was also found to be about 33 per cent effective in preventing gonorrhoea in teenagers.

Researchers believe the one vaccine can provide protection against the two very different diseases due to cross protective antibodies, as the meningococcal and gonococcal bugs share 90 per cent of their genes.

The Meningococcal B Immunisation Program was first introduced for infants under four years of age in October 2018, before being rolled out four months later to include adolescents aged 15 to 20 years, in a world-first.

In July 2021, the program was permanently added to South Australia’s immunisation program for babies and young people.

Free meningococcal B vaccinations are available for children at six weeks, four months, and 12 months of age, with adolescents in Year 10 also eligible for a free course consisting of two doses, eight weeks apart.

For more information on the Meningococcal B Immunisation Program, go to www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/MenBProgram

Quotes attributable to WCHN Clinical Research Director, Professor Helen Marshall AM

Meningococcal B is a rare but serious illness which can cause meningitis and sepsis, potentially leading to permanent disability such as brain injury, deafness or loss of one or more limbs or even death.

It can affect all age groups but is most common in children under five years old and in young adults aged 15 to 24 years old.

The results of the study are reassuring because they prove vaccines like this are having a profound protective effect on infants and young people.

Quotes attributable to WCHN and University of Adelaide Post-doctoral researcher, Dr Bing Wang

Our research found the immunisation program has been incredibly effective at preventing the illness in these age groups, which is largely due to the willingness of the community to get vaccinated and protect their babies, children and adolescents from the disease.

We are pleased that the vaccine program has been able to maintain its effectiveness at this incredible rate.