Wyndham council has vaccinated more than 7000 teenagers against the deadly meningococcal W disease, under a program funded by the state government.
Wyndham’s family friendly city portfolio holder Cr Mia Shaw said meningococcal W was a strain of an acute bacterial infection that could result in death if it was not treated in time.
The disease, which can spread through close contact, often does not show the same symptoms as other strains of the illness.
Between January and August this year, there were 48 confirmed cases of the illness across the state, including four deaths.
There were 78 cases of meningococcal W in Victoria during the past year, a sharp rise from just 17 in 2015.
Cr Shaw said the council completed its one-off meningococcal W vaccination program in August.
“Over a three-month program our staff visited 18 schools throughout Wyndham and vaccinated over 7000 children in years 10, 11 and 12,” she said.
Cr Shaw said that while the project was now complete, residents aged 15 to 19 years who had not received the injection were still eligible to do so before December 31.
For details visit: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/services/childrens-services/immunisations/immunisations-secondary-school.
