Parents across Tasmania could save up to $300 on vaccinations for their babies under a new Liberal election promise announced yesterday.
The party has promised to make meningococcal B vaccinations free for infants, tackling a disease that affects babies and young children at a rate 17 times higher than average.
While other strains of meningococcal disease are covered by the national immunisation programme, families currently have to foot the full bill for the B strain themselves.
“Meningococcal B vaccination … can be up to $300. That’s a significant expense for families,” Jeremy Rockliff said.
“It’s very important that we recognise as part of our plan when it comes to health, health prevention, that not only are we protecting our children, but also reducing a significant cost barrier when it comes to vaccination.”
The announcement marks the second major health policy from the Liberals this weekend, following their proposal on ADHD diagnosis support.
Local GP Dr Jo Chaffey, who chose to immunise her own children against meningococcal B from just six weeks old, said cost remains a major hurdle for many families.
“Some families go right out of their way to find those funds that they need to be able to vaccinate their kids because their health is just the most important thing,” Dr Chaffey said.
“Vaccination is a big part of what we do in general practice and we’re really passionate about it.”
She described meningococcal B as “a really deadly disease” that can escalate quickly.
“Kids go from being like they’re having a normal sort of cold to being really critically unwell very quickly,” she said.
Dr Lizzi Shires welcomed the plan, saying it could help make meningococcal B virtually “a disease of the past” like others controlled through immunisation.
The pledge would bring Tasmania in line with other states already funding the vaccine. However, Rockliff brushed off questions about why the state is only acting now.
Asked if the announcement was timed for the election, he said it was “always part of our plan” and pointed to the government’s broader healthcare investment of “$10 million a day”.
Shadow Health Minister Ella Haddad said Labor supports free vaccinations but questioned the premier’s credibility on immunisation policy.
“It is impossible to take Jeremy Rockliff seriously while he still backs in the dangerous views of Julie Sladden on his Bass ticket,” Haddad said.
Sladden, a former GP, questioned the safety of COVID vaccines during the pandemic, with her 2024 election stance previously labelled “untenable” and prior comments “misleading” by AMA Tasmania.
“How can Jeremy Rockliff on one hand promote the benefits of vaccines, while on the other continue his full support for a candidate with dangerous, non-scientific, anti-vax views?” Haddad said.
“If Jeremy Rockliff really cared about vaccinating Tasmanians, he would cut Julie Sladden loose.”
