Government urged to introduce Meningitis B vaccine urgently

We were delighted to hear the long-awaited news that a vaccine for Meningitis B has been given positive opinion by the European Medicines Agency.

This is a big leap forward in the fight against one of the most deadly forms of the disease in Ireland, responsible for an average of 170 cases each year, with most of them involving children. It is warmly welcomed by Meningitis Research Foundation, Ireland’s only national meningitis charity.

Since the first meningitis vaccine was introduced in 1992 many strains, including Hib, Men C and pneumococcal, have been dramatically reduced and we anticipate 73% of Meningitis B strains will be prevented by the new vaccine.

The last major vaccine against meningitis — the pneumococcal vaccine — took seven years to be introduced after licensure so we urge the Government to introduce the Meningitis B vaccine into the childhood immunisation schedule as soon as possible. The sad facts are that one in 10 who contract the disease will die and one in three survivors are left with lifelong disabilities, the most serious of which could accrue considerable costs to the Government in specialist treatment and support.

Diane McConnell

Ireland Manager

Meningitis Research Foundation

63 Lower Gardiner Street

Dublin 1