Britain has become the first country in the world to introduce Meningitis vaccine (Bexsero MenB) as a part of the national childhood immunisation scheme after a deal was inked between the government and drug maker GlaxoSmithKline.
Once introduced in the immunisation scheme, the vaccine will be available to all UK babies with the first dose being given at the age of two months followed by two more doses. The landmark deal, which has been the talking point in the media since a few months now, will mean that the vaccine could be introduced as early as September this year.
“I am very proud that we will be the first country in the world to have a nationwide MenB vaccination programme, helping to protect our children from a devastating disease”, said Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Government initiated the talks with GSK over the pricing of the vaccine last August on the advice of Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Hunt said that although it was “disappointing” the deal had taken so long, it was important to follow the advice of independent scientific advisors on vaccines and their costs.
“MenB can be severely disabling or fatal, especially in babies and young children. Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare so I am delighted that we have reached an agreement with GSK to supply the vaccine”, he added.
According to Meningitis Research Foundation, Meningococcal B disease (MenB) has for decades been the single largest cause of meningitis in the UK with young children and adolescents most at risk. The diseases is known to cause death in 10 per cent of all cases and to long-term after effects in a further 36 per cent.
Department of Health (DH) surveys have consistently shown that meningitis is the illness parents of young children in our country fear the most. Each year it costs the NHS millions of pounds in medical litigation, and the long-term costs to government of a severe case can exceed £3 million.
Linda Glennie, Head of Research & Medical Information at MRF said: “After years of research it’s wonderful to see a MenB vaccine available for all babies in the UK. We pay tribute to all the scientists and health professionals involved in the creation of the vaccine.”
Meningitis Now founder Steve Dayman MBE, who launched the UK’s meningitis movement after losing his baby son Spencer to Men B in 1982, said: “I’m absolutely elated with the news – I’ve waited 33 years since losing my baby to the same strain to hear this phenomenal, watershed news.
Meningitis Now Chief executive Sue Davie said “I’ personally thank our supporters, the public, MPs and doctors who relentlessly united behind our award-winning Beat it Now! campaign, which sped up this landmark news.”
What is Meningitis
Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the meninges – the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord – that usually affects children under the age of one. According to official numbers from the NHS, there are about 1,870 cases of meningitis B each year in the UK.
Meningococcal bacteria are common and carried harmlessly in the nose or throat by about one in 10 people with everyone at risk of going down with meningitis, but babies and young children are most vulnerable.
Some of the symptoms of Meningitis include high fever with cold hands and feet, confusion, vomiting and headaches. Most children will make a full recovery with early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment.
Fatality of Meningitis B is about 10 per cent with 25 per cent who have survived it at risk of long-term problems including amputation, deafness, epilepsy and learning difficulties.
