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The state government will expand the free meningococcal ACWY vaccination program to children ages one to four.
Health Minister Roger Cook announced on November 27 that the government will fund the program for another year to ensure more children the protection that saves lives.
Vaccination, which was introduced for the first time in January, provides protection against ACWY strains of meningococcal disease.
In Western Australia, 76,000 children aged one to four years received the vaccine, which represents only 55% of children in this age group.
More than 61,000 children are still not protected.
Mr. Cook said these statistics were alarming.
"We still have 45% of children under five who are not vaccinated," he said.
"We are expanding the immunization program to give parents more time to vaccinate their children, but this is not something that should be postponed.
"Meningococcal disease is deadly and I ask parents to take advantage of this extended program and to ensure that their children are protected against this disease.
"We know that the attack rate of this disease is highest among children under five and that it is time to act.
"Get your child vaccinated, all it takes is a simple stay in a vaccination clinic or doctor to save his life."
The state-funded program will also be extended to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged six weeks.
Aboriginal children account for more than 90% of the meningococcal cases in children under five that the vaccine could have prevented.
Meningococcal disease is a rare and life-threatening condition caused by a bacterial infection of the blood and / or membranes lining the spinal cord and brain.
Fever, headache, stiff neck, muscle or joint pain, nausea and rash or red-purple bruising are the symptoms.
In the baby, symptoms may include fever, rapid breathing, rash, vomiting, irritability, or drowsiness.
Medical badistance should be sought immediately for anyone with such symptoms.
The Ministry of Health will send reminders to parents whose children have not yet been vaccinated to make sure they are not forgotten.
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