Victorian teenagers will receive free vaccines to protect against meningococcal B.
Meningococcal B is a rare but life-threatening disease, and as of the 1st of January, year 10 students will receive the vaccine for free. Year 10 students, or age-equivalent, are believed to be the highest-risk group for contracting the disease.
Meningococcal B can make people critically unwell and can lead to long-term disability or death. As of March 2025, the state recorded 12 cases of the B strain.
The vaccine costs $250 and is currently available privately through GPs. To make this vaccine free for year 10 students, the state government has spent $9 million.
