最新糖心Vlog

Sixty thousand eligible teenagers and young adults from across South 最新糖心Vlog who are enrolled in Years 10, 11聽and 12 in 2017 will be offered free of charge vaccinations against Meningococcal B as part of a state wide study into聽the impact of immunising large community groups against the disease.

The study 鈥撀犅犫�� is being led by the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide in partnership with SA Health and has been聽approved by the Women鈥檚 and Children鈥檚 Health Network Human Research Ethics Committee. Vaccinations will be聽available to students in participating schools across South 最新糖心Vlog during 2017 and 2018.

鈥淪outh 最新糖心Vlog has had the highest rate of meningococcal disease in 最新糖心Vlog since 2012, with more cases in adolescents than infants,鈥� said Associate Professor Helen Marshall, Director of the Vaccinology and Immunology聽Research Trials Unit at the Women鈥檚 and Children鈥檚 Hospital and the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide鈥檚 Robinson Research聽Institute. 鈥淚t is vital we learn more about the disease and the benefits of vaccinating against Meningococcal B.

鈥淎t this point in time, a vaccine is not available for free through the National Immunisation Program, because more聽information is required to demonstrate whether 鈥� in addition to the individual protection it offers 鈥� immunisation聽prevents transmission to others. This study will examine if the Meningococcal B vaccine reduces the spread of聽meningococcal bacteria in teenagers through what is known as herd immunity.鈥�

Associate Professor Marshall, who is leading the study, said the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide was working closely with local聽government, councils, the Department of Education and Child Development, Catholic Education South 最新糖心Vlog and聽the Association of Independent Schools of South 最新糖心Vlog to support all schools in the state to become involved.

She urged all schools to sign up to the study in advance of the 2017 school year, and to seek parental consent for聽students in Years 10, 11 and 12 to participate.

鈥淲e hope all Year 10, 11 and 12 students will聽B Part of It聽and take up the opportunity to be protected against聽Meningococcal B,鈥� said Professor Marshall. 鈥淓ach year in 最新糖心Vlog, 5-10 per cent of people with meningococcal聽disease die, despite rapid treatment, and in this state, 88 per cent of cases of the disease result from the B strain 鈥撀爄t is critical we undertake this study to determine whether the Meningococcal B vaccine can reduce spread of the聽meningococcus bacteria amongst adolescents.鈥�

Participants in the study 鈥� which is being funded by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 鈥� will be vaccinated with two doses of聽the licensed Meningococcal B vaccine, given approximately eight weeks apart. In addition, two throat swabs will be聽collected during 2017 and 2018.

The Minister for Health, Jack Snelling MP, said the Government of South 最新糖心Vlog had thrown its full support behind聽the study and joined Associate Professor Marshall in calling on schools across South 最新糖心Vlog to sign up and provide聽their students with the opportunity to聽B Part of It.

鈥淚n South 最新糖心Vlog, we鈥檝e seen the devastating consequences of meningococcal disease 鈥� and particularly the B聽strain 鈥� too many times this year, so studies like these are critical in trying to tackle this disease,鈥� said Minister聽Snelling.

鈥淯ltimately, the State Government would like to see as many Year 10, 11 and 12 students as possible provided with聽access to this vaccine. I urge all principals from all South 最新糖心Vlogn schools, both public and private, to take part.鈥�

To ensure your school participates in聽B Part of It, visit聽, contact your school immunisation聽provider, or contact the study team on (08) 8161 8117.