The founder of Ballarat charity 4EK says she remains frustrated by just how much the community doesn’t know about the deadly Meningococcal B strain.
Abby McGrath lost her daughter Emma-Kate to the disease back in 2017 when she was aged just 19.
Abby says the community needs more education.
“People are still very confused about what they have and haven’t been vaccinated against.”
“There are five strains of Meningococcal, A, C, Y, W and B.”
“A lot of people think if they’ve had A, C, Y, W they’re vaccinated against B, but they’re not,” Ms. McGrath said.
It comes at 4EK works with Phoenix College in Sebastopol to vaccinate 60 students at a cost to the charity of around $24,000.
Last year 4EK spoke to the Victorian Health Minister about funding the Meningococcal B vaccine, however Mary-Anne Thomas says it’s the Commonwealths responsibility.
