The public clinic will be held at Albert Hall, on Saturday, October 6.

The free meningococcal ACWY vaccine will be provided by Public Health Services to people aged between six weeks and 21 years.

Appointments need to be booked for the vaccinations on the Health department’s website, with bookings opening one week before the clinic.

RELATED STORIES:

Clinics will also be held at Burnie Arts and Function Centre on October 20 and Devonport’s Paranaple Centre on October 27.

Public Health acting director Dr Scott McKeown said people can still attend their usual medical practitioner to receive the vaccine before the clinic.

“While the public clinics are a great chance to get a meningococcal ACWY vaccine, I encourage eligible Tasmanians to continue to get the free vaccine from a general practitioner or pharmacist and not wait for the clinics,” Dr MCKeown said.

Meningococcal disease symptoms include fever, severe headache, severe muscle pain and quickly becoming unusually unwell.

“Late in the illness, there can be a rash. Infants can be lethargic, floppy and feed poorly,” Dr McKeown said.

Anyone concerned they may have symptoms of meningococcal disease should seek emergency medical care.

For further information about the public meningococcal vaccinations visit www.health.tas.gov.au or call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.

While you're with us, did you know we have introduced a local news subscription package? Find out more here.