Today is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day

On this day I'd like to remind you that the meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero®) was added to the National Immunisation Program schedule for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children <2 years of age, on the 1 July 2020.

Why is it being funded?

The incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by serogroup B is highest in young children compared with other age groups and it is about 4 times higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged <2 years than in non-Indigenous children.

Immunisation providers are reminded to identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within your practices and discuss the need for additional recommended vaccines. It is important to alert parents of the need to buy paracetamol prior to vaccination.

Dose schedule

The number of Bexsero® doses required depends on age and presence of any medical conditions that increase the risk of IMD. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with:

• no medical risk conditions: 3 doses in total (given at 2*, 4 and 12 months of age)
• with risk conditions for IMD:4 doses in total (given at 2*, 4, 6 and 12 months of age)

Catch-up vaccination

Meningococcal B vaccine catch-up is available for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged <2 years until 30 June 2023.

Co-administration with other vaccines

The meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero®) can be safely administered with other childhood vaccines and can be given at the same time at the 2*, 4 and 12 months schedule points.

Meningococcal vaccines for Australians - NCIRS fact sheet

Clinical advice for vaccination providers - Meningococcal vaccination schedule from 1 July 2020

Meningococcal B consumer resources

• Order posters here
• Order brochures here

Hear from this year's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day Ambassador Thomas Mayor about the 2022 theme and how to get involved: https://buff.ly/3oSOLLQ