Worried parents paying more than $100 a shot call for free meningococcal vaccines
The federal government is being accused of failing families by not providing free meningococcal vaccines to children under five.
A spike in deaths is forcing worried Western Australian parents to pay for the jab if they want to protect their babies.
With eight children, the Tucci's are a bigger Perth family than most and have paid $3500 for meningococcal vaccines.
"The thought of any of my children getting meningitis is terrifying," mother Kimberley Tucci said.
The state government has paid for a free meningococcal ACWY vaccine for 17 to 19 year olds.
But the vaccine, which prevents four strains of the killer disease, is not free for children under five and costs over a $100 a shot.
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"The federal government needs to step up and make the meningococcal ACWY vaccine available and accessible," Meningitis Centre Australia board member Desiree Schofield said.
In 2017 there were 23 cases of the W strain of Meningococcal in Western Australia, killing five.
The strain killed 10 people across the country.
The Federal Health Minister's office says he's working on new meningococcal vaccine listings, but there's no indication of when that might happen.
"Even if we can save one life, it's worth it," Ms Tucci said.
