The UK's child immunisation programme has added a new vaccine against pneumococcal meningitis, the Department of Health announced last week. Babies will receive the vaccine in three stages at two, four and 13 months.
The UK's child immunisation programme has added a new vaccine against pneumococcal meningitis, the Department of Health announced last week.
Babies will receive the vaccine in three stages at two, four and 13 months.
It is estimated that the new vaccine will save the lives of 30 children a year and a further 100 children will be spared the after-effects of the infection including brain damage, deafness and cerebral palsy. Other changes revealed by the health department are that the current three doses of meningitis C vaccine will be re-spaced at three and four months old, with a booster at 12 months, and an extra Hib booster vaccine will be introduced at 12 months.
