New vaccination schedule to be introduced on July 1, parents urged to check records Date/Time: 2013:05:06 16:47:14 Source: The Daily Telegraph PARENTS are being urged to check children are up to date with their shots because the vaccination schedule will be expanded to include two meningitis vaccines come July 1. From next Monday, the fully immunised criteria for babies turning one this year will include meningococcal "C" and pneumococcal. Varicella for chickenpox will also be included. The vaccines are now required in order to receive Family Tax Benefit Part A supplement and government childcare payments. Children must also have proof of full immunisation to enter a child care centre after new laws were introduced in NSW last month. Selfish anti-vaccination conspiracy theorists putting us at risk The meningococcal vaccine for strain "C," which has been available for 10 years, has resulted in a dramatic drop in the incidence of the disease, which also causes the blood poisoning marked by an aggressive purple rash. Professor Robert Booy, head of clinical research at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) said it had saved many lives. "In the 10 years since we started meningococcal "C" vaccinations we've seen a 95 per cent drop in disease. In 2011 there were only nine cases of meningococcal "C" reported compared with 162 in 2002," Professor Booy said. NSW state cabinet approves tough new vaccination laws The group "B" strain of the bacterial disease, for which there is no current vaccination, was responsible for 83 per cent of the 222 cases of meningococcal disease last year. A vaccine for strain "B" may be available in the next 12 months, but Leanne Weymark -Cotter from Meningococcal Australia said parents needed to be aware that fully vaccinated does not mean fully covered against meningococcal "B." As we come into peak meningococcal season, Ms Weymark-Cotter said parents need to be vigilant and know the key symptoms. Early warning signs are similar to flu or gastroenteritis - severe headache, fever, sore throat and lethargy - with the distinctive purple rash associated often one of the final symptoms. Mathew Demetrios contracted meningococcal blood poisoning as a 19-year-old. In 2004 Mathew Demetrios, a fit 19-year-old personal trainer felt lethargic with flu-like symptoms one afternoon. Within 24 hours he was in an induced coma with meningococcal blood poisoning. His parents were told he had a one per cent chance of pulling through. "That night I was really sick and in the morning I couldn't get out of bed and I remember mum coming in and saying, 'you've gone purple'," he said. "Then I stopped breathing and ended up in an induced coma for two weeks," the now 28-year-old from Randwick said. Both his legs had to be amputated below the knee due to the damage caused by the blood poisoning.