New jab for meningitis launched

Parents will be able to get their children vaccinated against more types of meningitis from today as a new jab is launched on the NHS.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Apr 2010, 00:04 BST
Updated 1st Apr 2010, 00:04 BST

Experts predict thousands of lives could be saved by the new vaccine, which protects against 13 strains of the disease rather than seven previously.

Prevenar 13 will form part of the the NHS childhood immunisation programme and the UK is one of the first countries in the world to introduce it.

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It will offer greater protection against pneumococcal meningitis, the most deadly form of bacterial meningitis.

One in five cases of bacterial meningitis leads to death while 25 per cent of those who survive are left with serious effects including brain damage, hearing and sight loss.

Sue Davie, chief executive of support charity the Meningitis Trust, said: "We see firsthand the trauma and devastation that the disease can cause.

"With meningitis killing more children under five than any other infectious disease in the UK, introducing this improved vaccine into the childhood immunisation programme is a very positive step forward."

Related topics:ParentsNHS