New meningitis vaccine set for launch in autumn

A vaccine to fight six more strains of a bacteria linked with meningitis will be rolled out in the autumn.

Campaigners say lives will be saved by Government plans to immunise children against 13 types of the most common strains of pneumococcal bacteria.

The Meningitis Research Foundation says between 200 and 300 people contract the life-threatening condition each year, with 10% of cases ending in death and 20% of survivors left disabled.