Government urged to prioritise meningitis vaccine

The Government is being urged to include the only licensed vaccine against a deadly type of meningitis in the childhood immunisation schedule as soon as possible.

The vaccine, Bexsero, manufactured by Novartis, received its marketing licence from the European Commission yesterday.

It is being evaluated for inclusion in the national immunisation programme. Until now, vaccines only protected against some of the bacterial types involved.

Ireland manager of the Meningitis Research Foundation, Diane McConnell, said the new vaccine marked a “fantastic breakthrough” in their ongoing fight against the life-threatening disease.

She said it was vital the vaccine was included in the national immunisation programme as soon as possible to prevent more families suffering the devastating consequences of meningitis.

The Government takes vaccination advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).

If the Government gives Bexsero the go-ahead, the vaccine could be included in the childhood vaccination programme by the end of the year.

Ireland has the highest incidence of meningococcal B meningitis in Europe, at about 170 cases a year, with children under the age of five most susceptible to the disease.