Immunisation halts deaths from meningitis in under 19s
Immunisation has halted deaths from meningitis in young people aged under 19
Monday, 21, Apr 2008 12:01
Immunisation has halted deaths from meningitis in young people aged under 19, the government has revealed.
A report from the director of immunisation shows that for the first time there were no deaths in this age group from MenC (MeningococcalC/meningitis) last year.
Previously the disease has killed up to 78 people a year and left serious complications such as brain damage in survivors.
Cases of meningitis in children have reduced by 95 per cent since the introduction of the meningococcal C conjugate vaccine in 1999 and over 500 deaths have been prevented.
Since 2006 the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has prevented an estimated 470 cases of serious illness or deaths in young children from meningitis, septicaemia and severe pneumonia.
"This report highlights some of the recent successes and new challenges for our immunisation programme," said immunisation director Professor David Salisbury.
"However, it is imperative that we continue to do all we can to encourage take up of vaccines - particularly MMR [measles, mumps and rubella]."
Public health minister Dawn Primarolo added: "The childhood immunisation programme continues to be a cornerstone of public health protection in this country.
"Parents can be confident that making sure their children have their routine jabs is the best way to protect them."
Meningitis Trust chief executive Sue Davie said the charity is "delighted" with today's announcement.
"It is important for people to continue to receive vaccinations and ensure their children are vaccinated, to keep the level of this strain of meningitis as low as it is now," she added.
However Ms Davie warned that there are still many other strains of meningitis for which there is no vaccine.
The charity advises people to remain vigilant of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and to trust their instincts.