Vaccine to fight meningitis in children

A VACCINE for a life-threatening form of meningitis for children has been added to the childhood immunisation programme.

The vaccine is available for all babies born on or after July 1 and will be given to children at two, six and 12 months. Children up to two years old can also avail of the vaccine free of charge through a catch-up programme over the coming months.

The pneumococcal vaccine, which cost in the region of €25 million-€30m, will protect children against serious and life-threatening diseases including pneumococcal meningitis, septicaemia (blood poisoning), pneumonia and middle ear infection.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), pneumococcal disease is the leading vaccine-preventable cause of death in children younger than five years old.

In Ireland, approximately three children under five die every year from pneumococcal meningitis.

Last year in Ireland, 19 children aged under four years old contracted the disease with four of those cases resulting in death.

Of those who survive the disease, approximately 25% can suffer devastating after-effects including brain damage, loss of sight and hearing, epilepsy and amputation of limbs.

To mark the launch of the new vaccine, The Meningitis Trust has launched a public awareness campaign urging all parents of children under two years old to take advantage of the free catch-up vaccination scheme.

Any child born after September 2, 2006, is eligible for either the catch-up or new vaccination schedule and can avail of the vaccine to prevent pneumococcal disease.

The vaccine is available from doctors’ surgeries and public health clinics all over the country.

General manager of the Meningitis Trust, Carole Nealon, welcomed the introduction of the vaccine.

“Our organisation has fought long and hard to see the day that the children of Ireland were protected against another form of this terrible disease by having the vaccine put on the National Immunisation Schedule.”

Leading public health specialist Dr Peter Finnegan also highlighted the importance of vaccinating children under two years of age.

“Pneumococcal meningitis is among the most destructive forms of bacterial meningitis. It is, therefore, crucial that parents get their children vaccinated.

“Not only does the introduction of the vaccine protect our children from potentially devastating diseases, it will have universal benefits in lowering the incidence of pneumococcal disease across all age groups,” said Dr Finnegan.

For further information about the pneumococcal vaccine and The Meningitis Trust’s We Must Catch Up campaign, visit www.meningitis-trust.ie or call its 24-hour nurse-led helpline at 1800 523 196.