48,000 vaccines given out in fight against meningitis

THE 48,000 anti-meningitis booster vaccines promised by the Health Service Executive (HSE) have arrived in the country, and are being distributed to doctors’ surgeries after their delivery was fast-tracked by Tánaiste Mary Harney.

A Hib booster vaccine campaign will be launched by the HSE next month, and will encourage parents of children aged four and under to bring their children for the catch-up booster.

According to the HSE, the vaccines should be delivered to all doctors within the next three weeks. As part of the €10 million campaign, individual invitations will be sent by the HSE to parents requesting them to present their children for the booster.