Calls for the Government to provide free vaccines for all preventable forms of meningococcal disease to Year 11 students

The Meningitis Foundation's preparing a petition aimed at doing just that, with the goal of presenting it to Parliament sometime soon.

Meningococcal disease is an infection caused by bacteria, that can develop quickly and can be fatal.

Currently free vaccinations are only eligible for 13-to-25 year olds who live in communal living areas, such as boarding schools.

Director Pete Rowland says free eligibility needs to be extended to all 16-year-old students, as that's when they are usually most vulnerable.

He says it costs 300-dollars for those who aren't eligible, to get fully vaccinated.