SANOFI'S vaccine, MenQuadfi, is now available for free to adolescents under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
The vaccine protects against invasive meningococcal disease caused by neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, W, and Y (ACWY).
Adolescents aged 14 to 16 and those aged 15 to 19 who missed their school vaccinations can receive MenQuadfi at no cost.
Community pharmacies, through the NIP Vaccinations in Pharmacy Program, offer convenient access to MenQuadfi and other missed NIP vaccinations, stated the company.
Dr Iris Depaz, Head of Medical, Vaccines, Sanofi Australia said, "meningococcal disease can occur at any age and progress rapidly, but young people are more vulnerable".
"The tragedy of young people being severely disabled by meningococcal disease makes the role of the NIP adolescent program all the more important.
"Community pharmacists and nurses going into schools are on the frontline in providing adolescents with protection against this serious and sometimes deadly disease."
Free meningococcal ACWY vaccines have been available to teens via the NIP since 2019, helping prevent severe illness, disability, and death.
Sanofi also highlighted MenQuadfi's eco-friendly packaging, which is plastic-free and fully recyclable, replacing paper leaflets with a QR code to reduce environmental impact.
Further, by 2027, Sanofi aims to eliminate blister packs from all vaccine packaging.
The vaccine's side effects include injection site pain, erythema, swelling, malaise, headache, myalgia, and dizziness or fainting. JG
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