From 4 September every child starting their routine immunisations at two months of age can receive a jab against pneumococcal disease, which can cause meningitis, pneumonia and septicaemia (see Nursery World, 6 July, Child Health, p22). The DoH will also run a catch-up campaign to ensure that every child aged up to two is offered the vaccination from September until early next year.
Meningitis Trust chief executive Philip Kirby welcomed the move. He said, 'We have been campaigning for this vaccine for some time and we're very pleased that we now have an exact date for implementation.'
But he added, 'We urge people to continue to be alert to the signs and symptoms of meningitis, as we still don't have a vaccine for meningitis B, the most common bacterial cause of the disease.'
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
