Australian children will now have stronger protection against pneumococcal with the Australian Government implementing a new and improved vaccine on the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
The pneumococcal vaccine, Prevenar 20 is available from 1 September nationwide and free of charge through the NIP, offering greater protection for children.
Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection which is especially serious for young children and older people. It can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infection and meningitis.
Prevenar 20 replaces the two pneumococcal vaccines currently used on the NIP for children, Prevenar 13 and Pneumovax 23.
Prevenar 20 protects against more strains of the disease and will be given as a three-dose schedule for most children, and a four-dose schedule for First Nations children, regardless of where they live.
This new vaccine is expected to immunise more than 260,000 children across Australia each year. Without listing it on the NIP, the pneumococcal vaccine would cost parents over $300 each.
