The state and federal governments will continue to wait on the advice of public health experts before funding a meningococcal B vaccine, currently only available with a private prescription for about $125.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A 10-month-old infant was diagnosed with the disease at the Launceston General Hospital this week - the second case of meningococcal in Tasmania this year.
Last month Coroner Simon Cooper recommended the vaccine be publicly funded for people aged under 21 following the death of a Hobart teenager.
Vaccines for meningococcal A, C, W and Y strains are already available and administered through schools.
More on meningococcal in Tasmania from 2018:
- Launceston teenager diagnosed with meningococcal B
- Paramedics save teen's life with early meningococcal treatment
- East Devonport girl, 4, diagnosed with meningococcal
- Northern Tasmania's low meningococcal vaccination rates risk
- Publicly funding B vaccine needs to be weighed against long-term benefits: expert
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said he personally wanted to see the B strain vaccine available too, but it was up to public health experts to make that call.
"On meningococcal B, it was me personally and other state health ministers who raised this with Greg Hunt at COAG health council in the middle of last year," he said.
"A number of states are wanting to see what's the next available steps to see a funded meningococcal B vaccine program in Australia.
"My current advice from the director of public health is that meningococcal W is the key germ that's the most risk issue for our state, which is why we've delivered those 90,000 doses."
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, an independent body of public health experts, provides advice to the federal government on publicy-funded vaccines.
The federal government has committed to a nationally-funded program when the committee recommends the meningococcal B vaccine, which is administered via two shots.
South Australia is the only state that funds the B vaccine.
The infant remains in a stable condition at the LGH, a hospital spokesperson said.