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  • Tasmania's uptake of free meningococcal vaccinations has been low among 20-year-olds

    Author: AAP

A meningococcal jab campaign for Tasmanian youths has already saved some from the potentially-deadly disease, but many 20-year-olds are shunning the vaccine.

Nearly 90,000 young people have been vaccinated against the A, C, W and Y strains in just 11 weeks, Health Minister Michael Ferguson said on Thursday.

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However only 31 per cent of 20-year-olds have received a free jab, compared to around 94 per cent of 15-year-olds.

All Tasmanians aged six weeks to 21 are eligible for a free vaccination against meningococcal A, C, W and Y under the expanded program, which was introduced in response to an outbreak of the W strain in the state's south.

Mr Ferguson called the scheme "one of the most successful mass vaccination campaigns in Tasmania's history", as he encouraged older youths to take part.

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"We believe that the campaign will save Tasmanian lives, perhaps some have been saved from disease already," he said.

"The free program is not over and I encourage the remaining Tasmanians who have not yet received their vaccination to do so."

Tasmania has seen nine cases of meningococcal disease since July, including the death of a teenage girl that month.

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