Tragedy as a six-month-old baby dies ‘of meningococcal’ - as medics warn Australia could RUN OUT of vaccines

  • A baby boy has died of invasive meningococcal disease in South Australia
  • South Australian Health offered their sincere condolences to the parents
  • A number of people had been in contact with the boy before he died  
  • GlaxoSmithKline is experiencing a short-term supply of Menveo vaccine

A six-month old boy has died of invasive meningococcal disease in regional South Australia. 

South Australian Health offered their 'sincere condolences' to the parents at the 'distressing time'.

The department is concerned about others who may have been in contact with the boy before he died. 

 'SA Health is currently in the process of confirming the cause of death,' the department said in a statement. 

'We have also identified a number of people who had contact with the boy and will direct them to receive clearance antibiotics.'  

A baby boy, six months old, has died of invasive meningococcal disease in regional South Australia

A baby boy, six months old, has died of invasive meningococcal disease in regional South Australia

The department insisted there was no increased public health risk as a result of the death because the disease was only spread by close or lengthy contact.

The case is the second in regional South Australia in a month after a 16-year-old boy was admitted to hospital in a stable condition with the disease in February. 

The news comes as concerned parents are worried that a shortage of a meningococcal vaccine may see their babies at risk of several dangerous strains of the disease. 

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline is experiencing a short-term supply constraint of Menveo, due to a recent increase in notifications of the meningococcal W strain, which is driving increased demand. 

The department said there was no increased public health risk from the death because the disease was only spread by close or lengthy contact

The department said there was no increased public health risk from the death because the disease was only spread by close or lengthy contact

'This supply constraint is due to manufacturing disruption combined with high demand,' the company states on its website.

'Recently there has been an increase in cases of Meningococcal W strain in some areas of Australia leading to the introduction of state and territory-based vaccination programs to protect those most at risk.' 

'We regret the inconvenience this may cause people and their families who want the vaccine, as well as pharmacists and doctors. We are working to re-establish supply as a matter of urgency.'   

The news comes as concerned parents are worried that a shortage of a meningococcal vaccine 

The news comes as concerned parents are worried that a shortage of a meningococcal vaccine