We acted quickly over meningitis warnings, says Harney

TÁNAISTE and Health Minister Mary Harney yesterday said her department acted swiftly in response to a warning of an increased incidence of meningitis in vaccinated children.

Ms Harney said her department received the recommendation about the HiB catch-up booster from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) on August 3 and passed it on to the Health Service Executive (HSE) the following day.

"That is a very speedy reaction," she said, adding it was up to the HSE to make the vaccine available.