{"id":511318,"date":"2024-02-09T12:22:51","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T17:22:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/invasive-meningitis-cases-declined-post-vaccine-rollout-in-western-australia\/"},"modified":"2024-02-10T11:26:00","modified_gmt":"2024-02-10T16:26:00","slug":"invasive-meningitis-cases-declined-post-vaccine-rollout-in-western-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/invasive-meningitis-cases-declined-post-vaccine-rollout-in-western-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"Invasive meningitis cases declined post-vaccine rollout in Western Australia\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n Share this article<\/p>\n

<\/span>\n <\/div>\n

<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

<\/p><\/div>

Meningitis is entirely preventable through early vaccination in childhood. Credit: Ira Lichi via Shutterstock.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Meningitis is a serious condition that can result in death, but is entirely preventable through early vaccination in childhood. Western Australia has demonstrated a great public health achievement by reducing its yearly meningitis cases through vaccinating most school-age children. <\/p>\n

The causative agent, Neisseria meningitidis, can be divided into serogroups A, B, C, W and Y, which are commonly associated with invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). IMD has a rapid clinical manifestation. Its sudden onset of symptoms includes fever, stiff neck, nausea and a spotty red-purple rash, eventually progressing to septicemia or meningitis. Those younger than one year are most at risk of infection, partly due to a lack of hygiene practices and a higher tendency to touch objects in their surrounding and then their mouths, thus increasing their chances of coming into contact with N meningitidis. A second, but much smaller, peak in incidence is found in adolescents and young adults, reflecting social behaviour that facilitates faster transmission of nasopharyngeal N meningitidis.<\/p>\n

The best method of prevention is through vaccination against the common meningitis-causing N meningitidis serotypes. The seriousness of the condition presents a significant public health problem, but it can be effectively lessened through the continuation of vaccine immunisation programmes until nationwide coverage in Australia is achieved. <\/p>\n

The effectiveness of vaccines against meningitis was demonstrated in Western Australia. In 2016, the government of Australia began the incremental rollout of a meningococcal N meningitidis serotypes A, C, W and Y (MenACWY) vaccine. <\/p>\n

The area subsequently saw decreases in meningitis cases, reaching its lowest rate in 2020, which was the last recorded year to date. With vaccine implementation occurring at the current rate, GlobalData epidemiologists estimate that there will be 294 confirmed incident cases of IMD (all serotypes) in Australia by the end of 2024 in all age groups of men and women. That number is expected to rise to 304 confirmed incident cases by the end of 2029. However, it is worth noting that this slight increase in cases is mostly attributable to changes in the Australian population.<\/p>\n

The MenACWY rollout in 2016 in Western Australia began with vaccinating relevant schools, community health centres and immunisation clinics. Almost a year following its initial rollout, the vaccine was offered to children (aged 12 months to four years) and teenagers (aged 15 to 19 years) still attending school in at\u2013risk communities and regional areas. Eventually, full coverage was reached for children aged from 12 months to four years, as well as for those not attending school who were aged 10 to 12 years and 15 to 19 years. <\/p>\n

\n

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles
\n on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.<\/p>\n