The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) is calling on the Western Australian Government to protect families by providing the life-saving meningococcal B vaccine for babies and teens.
With 13 cases and one death in 2025, and four cases between December 2025 and January 2026 already, the RACGP is again urging the government to follow the lead of other states and act before more lives are put at risk.
Meningococcal B is a rare but devastating disease, which can progress quickly and lead to death or permanent disability.
Vaccination is recommended for every child aged two and under and every teen aged 15–19.
But unlike the MenACWY vaccine that protects against the meningococcal A, C, W, and Y strains, the MenB vaccine for coverage against the B strain is not funded under the National Immunisation Program and costs most patients around $140.
RACGP Vice President Ramya Raman called on the Western Australian Government to make the MenB vaccine free for children under two and teens aged 15-19.
“Meningococcal B is most devastating for vulnerable kids and young people, and vaccination is available to reduce its occurrence,” Dr Raman said.
“We have a vaccine for meningococcal B, but it costs around $140. Breaking this cost barrier will get shots in arms. Out-of-pocket costs shouldn’t prevent parents from protecting their children.
“We can reduce deaths and disability due to meningococcal B. Effective vaccines are available, now it is up to the Western Australian Government to ensure free access to all at-risk Australians.
“Meningococcal B is rare, but not as rare as it should be, and it can be deadly. Ensuring our kids are immunised against meningococcal B is the next step.”
Stacey Chater, whose 23-year-old son Brayden died within a couple of days of his first meningococcal symptoms in 2022, said all babies and teens should be immunised against meningococcal B and called for the vaccine to be free for all families.
“Within a day, Brayden went from managing a fever with a painkiller and a night’s sleep, to being unconscious and unresponsive the next evening – I don’t want that for anyone else,” she said.
“We can’t predict meningococcal B, but we can protect against it with vaccination, and we should make that as easy a decision as we do other lifesaving vaccines by making the MenB vaccine free for kids and teens.”
Dr Raman noted South Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory had successfully rolled out free MenB vaccination programs and called on the WA Government to do the same.
“With good coverage against other common strains through vaccination, meningococcal B now accounts for more than 80% of meningococcal cases, she said.
“Even with treatment, meningococcal disease still kills 5–10% of patients and leaves around one in five survivors with serious long-term health issues including brain damage, hearing loss, scarring, or an intellectual disability.
“This is most devastating for vulnerable kids and young people, and there is a solution available. We have seen in other states that meningococcal B vaccination programs significantly cut rates amongst children and adolescents.
“South Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory have all rolled out successful programs, and both major parties in Tasmania committed to free MenB vaccines for babies during their recent election. Now is the time for Western Australia to follow their lead.”
Karen Quick, Chief Executive Officer Meningitis Centre Australia, echoed the importance of the vaccinations.
“We know from a recent MCA survey of 22,000 parents that 98% of them say they want the Men B vaccine for their children – and 87% simply cannot afford to pay for it themselves,” she said.
“It’s a matter of health equity that must be addressed immediately. Protection of WA’s kids should NOT depend on your income or postcode. Meningitis Centre Australia call on the WA government to level the playing field for ALL parents by making the lifesaving Men B vaccine free as it already is in other states.”
~ENDS
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