Stirling Griff (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Nash, the minister representing the Minister for Health. Every year dozens of young Australians die or are permanently disabled from meningococcal disease. The Bexsero vaccine against the major strain, meningococcal B, is available privately but the government refuses to list it on the national immunisation program, following advice from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. Given the UK and Ireland now offer the vaccine as part of a routine childhood immunisation and the US offers it for free to poorer families, why should not Australia follow suit and offer the vaccine for free through the national immunisation program?