Queensland MenB Vaccination Program
The Queensland MenB Vaccination Program is the largest state-funded immunisation program ever implemented in Queensland. The Program provides free meningococcal B (menB) vaccines to eligible Queensland infants, children and adolescents.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (less than 2 years of age) and people with specific medical risk factors for invasive meningococcal disease have historically been and will continue to be eligible for free menB vaccine through the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
The Queensland MenB Vaccination Program makes menB vaccines available for eligible infants, children and adolescents in addition to NIP eligible groups.
MenB vaccine is available for purchase on the private market for those who are not eligible under the NIP or the Queensland MenB Vaccination Program. You can discuss your family’s immunisation needs with your immunisation service provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Advice for consumers (PDF 141 kB)
Advice for providers (PDF 163 kB)
Meningococcal disease
Meningococcal disease is a rare but severe infection that occurs when meningococcal bacteria invade the body from the nose or throat.
Meningococcal bacteria are carried in the nose and throat of a small proportion of healthy people (about 10%) and are spread through close prolonged contact. The bacteria are more commonly found in teenagers and young adults. There are a number of different strains of meningococcal bacteria. Worldwide, the main strains that cause meningococcal disease are A, B, C, W and Y.
Most people with meningococcal infection fully recover, but some people can develop long-term health complications including limb deformity, skin scarring, deafness and brain damage.
Eligible groups
The following Queenslanders are eligible for the Queensland MenB Vaccination Program:
- Infants, 6 weeks to less than 12 months of age.
- Catch-up immunisation for children aged 12 months to less than 2 years of age who have not yet started or completed a course of menB immunisation with the Bexsero vaccine.
- Adolescents aged 15 to less than 20 years.
Once immunisation is commenced during the eligibility period, a person remains eligible for their second dose, regardless of age.
MenB vaccines are available for purchase on the private market for those who are not eligible under the NIP or the Queensland MenB Vaccination Program. Please discuss your need for private immunisation and the associated costs with your healthcare provider.
Booking an appointment
Men B immunisation is available through a network of more than 2,000 Queensland Health registered immunisation service providers, including GPs, community pharmacies, community immunisation clinics, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services. Please contact your immunisation provider for an appointment.
MenB immunisation will also be delivered in Year 10 through Queensland Health’s School Immunisation Program.
Funding
The menB vaccine is free for eligible people. A consultation/administration fee may be charged by some immunisation service providers.
If you are a pharmacist providing menB immunisation in Queensland under the state-funded program, you will not be eligible to charge a service fee for administration. Please refer to the Queensland NIPVIP website for more information.
Medicare eligibility
Eligibility for the Queensland MenB Vaccination Program is linked to the eligibility for Medicare benefits.
Note, refugees and humanitarian entrants settled in Queensland are Medicare eligible and are therefore eligible to be immunised under this program.
Non-Queensland residents
Non-Queensland residents are not eligible for menB vaccine under this Program. The Queensland MenB Vaccination Program is for residents of Queensland who are Medicare eligible.
Queensland Government funding of the Queensland MenB Vaccination Program
Meningococcal disease is a serious infection that can cause significant illness, disability and death. Around one-third of children and adolescents who survive meningococcal disease develop permanent complications. With improved control of other strains of meningococcal disease through immunisation, the menB strain is emerging as the most common cause of illness and death from meningococcal disease in Queensland.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends menB immunisation for several at risk groups, in addition to those currently included under the NIP schedule. The implementation of a Queensland funded menB vaccination program for children and adolescents is in accordance with ATAGI’s recommendations. The Queensland MenB Vaccination Program aims to remove financial barriers to immunisation, improve vaccine uptake, and improve the protection that menB immunisation provides against meningococcal disease.
Further resources
Meningococcal B immunisation - Paracetamol Administration Factsheet (PDF 774 kB) recommends dosages before and after immunisation.
Meningococcal B immunisation - Is your child having their meningococcal B vaccine today? (PDF 905 kB) The parent poster recommends paracetamol dosages before and after immunisation.