Tuesday, 9 December 2025

 Brad BATTIN (Berwick) (14:15): My question is to the Minister for Health. Levi Syer passed away less than a day after contracting meningococcal B. He had turned just 16. Meningococcal B kills 5 to 10 per cent of patients and leaves 10 to 20 per cent of those who survive with brain damage, hearing loss or learning disabilities. Will the government commit to funding the meningococcal B vaccine?

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:16): I thank the member for Berwick for his question. Like me, the member has had the opportunity to meet with Levi’s mum Norliah Syer-Peterson. I understand Norliah is present today, and I want to thank her for her extraordinary advocacy in the face of such great loss. I acknowledge that and I thank her for it, and I thank the member for his support of his constituent.

The meningococcal B vaccine is currently available under the national immunisation program for specific vulnerable groups. While Victoria does fund specific vaccines outside of the NIP to address identified local public health risks, outbreaks and local epidemiology, we have always relied on independent health advice to determine the vaccine schedule. As we know, meningococcal B is a terrible disease. It is rare, but the consequences are significant. While Victoria has a very low rate of infection when compared with other states and territories, I have asked the chief health officer to review the need for a localised vaccine program. The CHO has also advised me that there has been a significant period of time since the vaccine was last considered for listing on the NIP and that a reassessment is due.

On that advice I have written to the federal health minister, Minister Butler, advocating for the implementation of a broader meningococcal B vaccine program. The CHO also, on behalf of Victoria, raised the meningococcal B immunisation at the Australian Health Protection Committee’s November meeting, specifically concerns about whether the program as it stands is equitable. The Commonwealth of course requires an application from the manufacturer to consider a vaccine for the NIP, and as a consequence of this I have written to GlaxoSmithKline encouraging them to reapply to have the vaccine listed on the NIP. I am hopeful that they will come forward and participate in the process.

Again, I want to acknowledge Norliah and thank her for her committed advocacy. In doing so, I want to acknowledge other grieving parents and families that have been impacted by meningococcal B. But I want to advise the house that serious work is underway here in the state of Victoria to address this issue.

 Brad BATTIN (Berwick) (14:18): Thank you, Minister. The meningococcal B vaccine can cost up to $300 a dose. South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory have already committed to funding it. Why did you state to Norliah that there is not an endless bucket of money to fund it here in Victoria?

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:19): The issue here that we need to address is the need for vaccines to be delivered via the national immunisation program. I understand – and Norliah knows this because she and I have had these conversations – this does take some time, and that is why I have committed to doing some serious work here in Victoria. We need also to understand why vaccines are so expensive, and it is worth knowing that one of the issues is the actual price that is charged by the pharmaceutical company in this instance. Again, on behalf of all taxpayers, I do encourage our pharmaceutical companies to consider, rather than pitting one state against the next, the opportunity to – (Time expired)