MenB vaccination programme launched  

A new vaccination programme has been launched today which offers children protection against meningococcal group B (MenB) infection.

MenB vaccination – added to the NHS Childhood Immunisation Programme in England – will help protect children against MenB which can cause meningitis and septicaemia.

Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at Public Health England said: “This vaccine will help to save lives and prevent permanent disability. Meningococcal B disease can be devastating for babies and young children and it has cut many lives short and left young people disabled.”

Babies will be offered the vaccine – named Bexsero – with other routine vaccinations at 2 months, 4 months and 12 to 13 months of age. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended the national MenB immunisation programme for infants to use a 3-dose schedule.

“We are delighted the MenB vaccine has been introduced as it has been at the top of this charity’s agenda for many years. 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 MenB,” said Chief Executive of Meningitis Research Foundation Christopher Head.

Previous research shows that toddlers under 1 years of age are at highest risk of developing MenB diseases where the number of cases peak at 5-6 months of age. Therefore, vaccinating babies at these times helps protect them when they are most at risk.

Christopher Head added: “This vaccine could potentially prevent up to 4,000 cases of meningococcal disease in children younger than 5 years 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.”

See our feature on the MenB vaccine: http://www.labnews.co.uk/features/case-menb-vaccine-06-06-2012/