Babies To Be Immunised Against Meningitis B

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced a deal with drug manufacturers that will give babies in the UK access to vaccine against meningitis B.

16:38 30 March 2015

A deal between the Government and drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline will make the vaccine against meningitis B available to all UK babies “this year” as announced by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Announcing the agreement, Mr Hunt said he was "very proud that we will be the first country in the world to have a nationwide MenB vaccination programme".

 

The deal was delayed in 2014 due to negotiations over costs. 

 

The drug will become a part of the national childhood immunisation scheme and babies receive their first vaccine at two months old, followed by two further doses. 

 

Meanwhile, Scotland’s health secretary Shona Robison confirmed that the vaccine will be given to all infants in Scotland “as quickly as possible.” 

 

Mr Hunt added: "[The deal] means we can now go ahead this year with rolling out the meningitis B vaccine and I think that's something that families, particularly ones with young children, will really welcome."

Sue Davie, chief executive of charity Meningitis Now, said: "To know that babies will be protected against MenB is fantastic and another great step forward in our fight against meningitis."

Chris Head, chief executive of the Meningitis Research Foundation, said: "We are delighted that vaccinating all babies against this devastating disease is now within sight, cementing the UK's position as a world leader in meningitis prevention."