Posted by Michael Wonder on 26 Jul 2018
Meningococcal vaccine rejected as not being "cost-effective"
25 July 2018 - With five cases of meningococccal disease now confirmed in Tasmania, questions are being asked about why the state and federal governments haven't moved to make the meningococcal B vaccine available on the PBS.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says Under legislation made by the Australian Parliament, the National Health Act, the Government is not able to include a new vaccine on the National Immunisation Program unless it has first been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. At the moment this vaccine is subject to trials and once completed will be presented to the medical experts to review and make a recommendation to government.
Peter Collignon, Professor of Infectious Diseases at ANU, told Sarah Gillman the vaccine is expensive and has not yet proven to be cost effective.
