Health and Immunisation Management Services

01/03/2026

⛷️A skiing holiday in Japan took a tragic and terrifying turn for 24-year old Australian Anna Gallo last month when she fell acutely ill with and .
😰On February 5 Anna and her boyfriend Liam were due to fly home to Queensland, but Anna became unwell - shivering and vomiting uncontrollably - with what they thought was food poisoning.
🛫Just hours before take-off, Liam saw a rash of red spots was blooming all over Anna's body.
🚑Liam's decision to call an ambulance at that moment saved Anna's life.
She had become delirious and now has no memory of the ambulance trip or the days that followed.
👩‍⚕️Doctors at Tokyo's National Center for Global Health and Medicine diagnosed Anna with meningococcal B, which had rapidly escalated into meningitis and septic shock.
🛏️She fell into a three-day coma, her life supported by machines and intravenous antibiotics.
💉Anna was a victim of the "vaccine gap" - having no vaccine protection against the type of Meningococcal most common in Australia, Meningococcal B.
"I was vaccinated for meningococcal ACW Y in school, but not for type B, which is the kind I got," Anna says.
‼️Over 80% of cases of meningococcal in Australia are Meningococcal B.

Anna's experience shows how critical it is to close that vaccine gap across ALL Australian states and territories by making the vaccination FREE in all states not just some of them.

Read the full story here: https://ow.ly/fptu50YlJGs

10/02/2026

As the school year begins, students in year 7 and 10 can be protected against a range of diseases for free through the School Immunisation Program.

Year 7 students can receive immunisations for human papillomavirus (HPV), diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (dTpa).

Year 10 students can receive immunisations for meningococcal B (2 doses) and meningococcal ACWY.

Look out for your school’s consent form, sign it and return it.

For more information, visit: www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/SIP

05/02/2026

HEALTH ALERT: Measles is circulating undetected through Adelaide after a new case was detected in an adult.

A number of locations the person visited while infectious have been identified, with SA Health warning people who were there at the time they may have been exposed.

SEE THE LIST: https://nine.social/154C

04/02/2026

04/02/2026

WA Health has confirmed four recent cases of Meningococcal B disease, with two cases occurring in December 2025 and two in January 2026. These cases are not linked to each other

If you need support or information, call our 24-hour helpline on 1800 250 223, or connect with others through our support group: Mending Hearts → https://meningitis.com.au/get-support/mending-hearts/

Now is the time for action Men B should be free in WA → https://meningitiscentreaustralia.good.do/waitstimemenbshouldbefree/free-menb-wa-action/

With case numbers rising, it’s important to know the signs so you can act fast in seeking urgent medical advice — Every Second Counts!

Order your FREE signs and symptoms fridge magnet now — it could save a life:
https://meningitis.com.au/about-the-disease/signs-symptoms/

LINKS IN BIO

03/02/2026

Three new measles cases in recently returned overseas travellers have been reported in .

💉 People born during or after 1966 who have not had two doses of , or are unsure of their status, are advised to get for .

👶 Infants aged 6 to 11 months can receive a state-funded dose of MMR vaccine prior to overseas travel through their GP or Health Service.

ℹ️ Measles is a highly infectious viral disease that can lead to uncommon but serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain inflammation ( ).

👉 Exposure: New public exposure sites have been identified.

People who have attended the listed exposure sites, during the specified dates and times contained within the link below, should monitor for symptoms of measles.

⚠️ Symptoms: Anyone who develops symptoms of measles should seek medical care. Wear a mask and call ahead to make sure you can be isolated from others.

For the full list of these exposure sites, symptoms to monitor for, and information about vaccinations: https://go.vic.gov.au/3Z8iYbT

03/02/2026

27/01/2026

BREAKING: A woman in her 30s from metropolitan Adelaide is in hospital in a critical condition after contracting meningococcal B.

SA Health has confirmed that multiple people have been in contact with the case, and two will take clearance antibiotics to prevent further transmission.

22/01/2026

22/01/2026

Did you know?

When a woman is vaccinated, she passes antibodies to her baby through the placenta. This helps to protect the baby from infection for the first few months of their life, until they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves.

For example, the whooping cough pregnancy vaccine is very effective at protecting babies from . In a recent Australian study of over 250,000 pregnant women who were vaccinated against whooping cough, their babies were 70% less likely to get whooping cough in the first few months of life compared to the babies of mothers who didn’t have the vaccine in pregnancy.

If contracted during , whooping cough can lead to insomnia, incontinence, broken ribs and a range of other painful complications. By vaccinating for whooping cough during pregnancy, Mum receives important protection too – it’s a two-for-one deal!

The vaccine in pregnancy is also effective at protecting both mothers and babies from flu. Research shows the risk of stillbirth is reduced by 51% in pregnant people who are immunised against influenza, and that babies were less likely to be hospitalised with in their first year of life if Mum had a flu vaccine during pregnancy.

Pregnant people who contract influenza are at a higher risk of hospitalisation and death than non-pregnant people, and are at increased risk of serious problems such as premature labour and birth. Fortunately, influenza vaccination during pregnancy reduces these risks for both Mum and baby.

Pregnancy is a win-win for both mum and baby, providing essential protection against serious diseases.

22/01/2026

Meningitis is a medical emergency. It can develop in a number of hours. It’s important to know the warning signs and to get medical treatment

22/01/2026

is making a comeback as Australia faces rising cases!

When Laine was a baby she caught measles before she was old enough to be vaccinated. Years later she developed subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but inevitably fatal complication that slowly robbed her of sight, speech, movement, and independence before she died at 12.

In 2025 there were over 160 reported measles cases in , with local spread following introductions from overseas travellers, a pattern that can quickly put babies and vulnerable children in harm’s way. When coverage falls or gaps exist, outbreaks spread fast and can reach communities with infants, children, and others who face the worst outcomes.

Complications include , (brain swelling), and (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis), which can appear years after the initial infection and is always fatal.

Measles is extremely : about 9 out of 10 people without immunity who are exposed will become infected. Because of that contagiousness, high community immunity is essential to protect those who are vulnerable.

Laine’s life, and her mother Cecily’s decades of advocacy, remind us that measles is not a harmless childhood illness but a virus that can cause lifelong suffering and death.

Laine’s life should not be a footnote. Her story is a warning: measles can steal a childhood and leave families with lifelong grief. We can prevent that pain by ensuring high coverage, rapid public-health response, and protecting those who cannot yet be vaccinated.

Vaccination is the best course of action to protect yourself and your loved ones from measles.

Share Laine’s story, check your records, and act.

Because protecting one child helps protect them all 🩵