News Archive

Associate Professor Charlene Kahler, Deputy Director of the Marshall Center, appeared on A Current Affair last night to talk about meningococcal vaccination. In the past, the majority of meningococcal disease in Australia was caused by MenB and MenC strains. However, last year 75% of all cases in Western Australia were MenW. A similar rise in prevalence of MenW was also seen across Australia. The National Immunisation Program contains a vaccine against MenC which has disappeared since 2000. To be vaccinated against MenW, Dr Kahler is urging the public to ask their GPs for a script for the quadrivalent MenA/C/Y/W vaccine which is protective against MenW. Children under the age of 4yrs, young adults (15-24 yrs) and seniors (over 65 yrs) should consider being vaccinated.