Victoria Expands Free Meningococcal B Vaccines for Year 10 Students
11 May 2026
The vaccine rollout will begin from 1 January next year through school immunisation programs, GPs, pharmacies, local council immunisation services, and Aboriginal health services.
The program will run alongside the existing meningococcal ACWY vaccine already provided to Year 10 students through the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
Harriet Shing said the free vaccine program will help protect teenagers from a serious and potentially deadly disease.
She also confirmed the Victorian Government will continue pushing for the vaccine to be added to the national program.
Anita Muñoz welcomed the move but said more support is needed, especially for infants who are also at high risk of meningococcal B infection.
Dr Muñoz said the cost of vaccines can place pressure on many families and warned that important healthcare should not depend on a parent’s financial situation.
She also called for a consistent national approach to meningococcal B vaccination, saying the current differences between state and national programs create gaps in healthcare access.
Dr Muñoz urged the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to continue discussions about adding the vaccine to the National Immunisation Program.
The announcement was especially meaningful for Ballarat mother Abby McGrath, whose daughter Emma-Kate died from meningococcal disease in 2017 at just 19 years old.
Since losing her daughter, Ms McGrath has created the organisation 4EK to raise awareness about meningococcal disease and advocate for better vaccine access.
She said the new program is an important step towards preventing other families from experiencing the same loss.
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Source: newsGP