Meningococcal Infection: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Vaccination

This report examines meningococcal infection, specifically focusing on the situation in Tasmania. It highlights the prevalence of the disease, particularly among Aboriginal populations, and identifies key risk factors such as age, exposure to smoking, and contact with infectious individuals. The report also details the availability of vaccinations, including free options in community care settings and the cost of private sector vaccinations. Furthermore, it references studies and data from the Australian health department and immunization registries to provide a comprehensive overview of the issue, emphasizing the importance of vaccination to reduce health risks and improve patient outcomes. The report concludes with a discussion on the need for educational sessions to inform the community about the disease and available preventative measures.

MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION PREVALENCE IN TASMANIA
• A study by Lawrence et al. (2016), the health department of
Australia suggested that 10 % of the indigenous individuals in
Tasmania are carrying Neisseria meningitis in their nose and throat.
• The Australia childhood immunization registry shows Tasmania's
immunization rate for children aged 12 to 15 is just below 93% that
indicated that majority of the children are deprived of protection
from the immunity (Leeds et al. 2018).
• The immunization coverage rates for the individuals between 24 to
27 months decreased to 89%. The primary health of Tasmania
estimated that vaccination rates may vary from 67% to 88% in
some of the community
• The Australia childhood immunization registry shows Tasmania's
immunization rate for children aged 12 to 15 is just below 93% that
indicated that majority of the children are deprived of protection
from the immunity (Leeds et al. 2018)
figure: prevalence in Tasmania
source: (Leeds et al. 2018).
• Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but serious bacterial
infection caused by Neisseria meningitis that causes the
membrane that covered the brain and spinal cord become
inflamed
• The prevalence of the disease is recently observed in Tasmania
because of a frequent case of meningococcal infection amongst
aboriginal pollution in the middle of 2018 which is still running
spreading in that area
figure: meningitis
source: (Arnotte. et al. 2018).
RISK FACTORS
• A study by Rashid et al. (2015), suggested that older teenagers in
between 15 years to 21 years are particularly at risk of carrying the
bacteria and transmitting it to others
• Exposure to the smoking
• Infectious individuals
• throat discharge of individual carrying bacteria
figure: meningitis
source: (Drew et al. 2018).
FACILITIES AVAILABLE FOR THE
VACCINATIONS
REFERENCE:
• . A, C, Y, W vaccinations are available free of cost in
community care of aboriginal region of Tasmania and
the vaccination program would be conducted twice a
week in the community care setting with the assistance
of the general practitioner (Drew et al. 2018).
• Only vaccination B is available in the private healthcare
sectors and each of the vaccination cost $ 150 that
aboriginal individuals cannot afford (Arnotte. et al.
2018).
• Apart from the vaccination, the additional educational
session would be given to each individual in the
community about the risk factor of the disease, how
vaccination help to 5educe it. It will help in reducing
health issues and empower patients to live quality lives.
figure:vaccination
source: (Leeds et al. 2018).
Drew, N., Burns, J., Burrow, S., Elwell, M., Fleay, J.J., Gray, C., Harford-Mills, M., Hoareau, J.,
Macrae, A., Potter, C. and Poynton, M., 2018. Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
health status, 2017.
Rashid, H., Khatami, A., Haworth, E. and Booy, R., 2015. Meningococcal vaccination and Hajj
pilgrimage. The Lancet, 385(9973), pp.1072-1073
Leeds, I.L., Thayer, W.M., Sankhla, P., Bamogo, A. and Namasivayam, V., 2018. Mandatory
Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccination for College Students is Not Cost-Effective. Value in
Health, 21, p.S1.
.