Babies To Get New Meningitis B Vaccine
A new vaccine to prevent meningitis B is to be offered to babies from the age of two months in the first national and publicly-funded programme of its kind in the world.
Some 1,200 people, mainly babies and children, contract meningitis B each year, with around one in 10 dying from the infection and others suffering from permanent disabilities.
The NHS is to make available new vaccine Bexsero immediately to babies at two months, with a second dose at four months and a booster at 12 months.
There will also be a short-term catch-up programme throughout this month for babies due three and four-month vaccinations.
The jab, which has been delayed by rows over cost, also protects against infection by meningococcal group B bacteria, which can cause meningitis and septicaemia or blood poisoning.
Tests suggest the vaccine will protect against around 90% of the Men B strains seen in the UK.
One of the first babies to be given the new vaccination is Daisy, the granddaughter of Dr Jane Wells, a lifelong meningitis campaigner, who co-founded the charity now known as Meningitis Now, after her son Dan suffered meningitis as a baby and teenager.
Dr Wells said: "I'm so pleased that Daisy will benefit from the vaccine, it's the perfect gift.
"Meningitis has been prominent in our family - we have experienced three deaths and my son, Dan, survived the disease twice. With our history, we were very worried for Daisy.
"When Dan first contracted meningitis it completely changed our lives - we were in a dark hole and no one could tell us anything.
"No parent or child should have to go through what we did. Dan struggled with his balance, tiredness, sickness and his education for years but luckily his after-effects were minor compared to what they could have been.
"Fortunately, when Dan contracted the disease a second time, treatment and recognition had improved drastically."
Meningitis Research Foundation’s Christopher Head said: "We hope this vaccine will save many lives and spare countless families the trauma of seeing a loved one die or become seriously disabled because of meningitis B.
"If cases continue as they have in the past, over the next decade this vaccine could potentially prevent up to 4,000 cases of meningococcal disease in children younger than five in the UK.
"However, we must remind the public that there are still some forms of the disease which are not covered by vaccines, so it is vital that people are still aware of the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia."
Another meningitis vaccine - Men ACWY - is currently being offered to 17 and 18-year-olds and students starting university this year.
Meningitis symptoms develop quickly and may include a high fever with cold hands and feet, vomiting and refusing to feed, agitation, drowsiness or being floppy or unresponsive.
Some babies develop a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it.
