Australians probe meningococcal vaccine

SYDNEY, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Australian health authorities are investigating whether a faulty vaccine may have contributed to the death of a 5-year-old boy from meningococcal disease.

The child's mother said Saturday her son had been vaccinated against meningococcal C after he was twice sent home from a hospital, once armed only with paracetamol, the Sydney Daily Telegraph reported.

The one strain of the disease that vaccine can prevent is the C strain.

An official of the New South Wales health department said his staff would investigate the safety and use of the vaccine as well as related matters.