MenABCWY QUINTET Study
Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious disease that can result in death if not recognised and treated quickly. There are 13 known strains of meningococcal disease, but just five are responsible for causing deadly meningitis (infection in fluid around the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning) – A, B, C, W and Y.
Australian babies and teenagers receive a MenACWY vaccine as per the National Immunisation Program (NIP), but there is no single vaccine that protects against all five disease-causing strains of meningococcal disease. Thanks to the launch of the QUINTET Study, Telethon Kids Institute researchers are paving the way for a world first universal meningococcal vaccine covering five strains of the life-threatening disease.
Participants receive four vaccinations over the study period, consisting of a combination of currently licensed meningococcal vaccines, the study vaccine MenABCWY and/or a placebo. They are randomly assigned to one of six groups, and each group is assigned their own schedule of vaccines so that researchers can investigate which vaccines provide the best possible protection against meningococcal disease.
Robbie Buchan with Dad Ian, Mum Desiree and little sister Luna
A universal meningococcal ABCWY vaccine would be a dream come true for the Buchan family - their son Robbie contracted the B strain of the disease at just five months old in 2014. With 80 per cent of his body covered in necrotic tissue, baby Robbie was lucky to survive and was forced to have all four limbs amputated. His parents have been campaigning for the meningococcal B vaccine to be provided free to all kids over the last five years and kindly shared their story with Seven News in the lead-up to Telethon to help boost recruitment for the study.
Adolescents and young adults aged 10-25 years are currently being recruited to take part in this exciting research, visit the QUINTET Study webpage to get involved.