Infants to receive new life-saving vaccinations

Published on Monday 28 August 2006 00:48

A VACCINE protecting children from meningitis and pneumonia is set to be added to Scotland's routine immunisation programme despite ongoing controversy over the existing MMR jab.

The new jab will be routinely administered to infants at two months, four months and 13 months from next week.

Health experts yesterday predicted that the vaccination will save lives by protecting children from illnesses including septicaemia and blood poisoning.

The vaccine was introduced in the US about six years ago.

Figures showed that cases of severe pneumococcal disease caused by the seven strains targeted by the jab had dropped by 94 per cent in children under five in the USA by 2003.

However, concern about the cost has delayed its introduction in the UK. The vaccine costs 34.50, more than all of the other childhood inoculations put together.

Children under two who have started their vaccinations will also be eligible for the jab under a "catch-up" programme.

Dr Jim McMenamin, a consultant epidemiologist at Health Protection Scotland, said: "This is a significant advance.

"It offers children protection against yet another form of severe meningitis and further reduces the number of cases that would occur each year from the disease."

Dr McMenamin said that since the introduction of the meningitis C vaccine there has been a "drastic reduction" in childhood cases of meningococcal meningitis.

Figures show that children under two are at the highest risk of pneumococcal disease, which kills more than 50 children across Britain each year.

Pneumococcal meningitis is the most life-threatening form of meningitis and septicaemia, with the highest death rate.

Parents are not obliged to have their children immunised. Many parents have refused to let their children have the MMR vaccine amid reports suggesting a potential link with the rise of autism. But a spokesman for the Scottish Executive said: "This is an important addition to the childhood immunisation schedule and we recommend all parents of children of the relevant ages take advantage of it."

Philip Kirby, chief executive of the Meningitis Trust, added: "Vaccination is the only way to prevent meningitis and we welcome these changes as it will help save lives.

"Pneumococcal meningitis is a devastating disease - 20 per cent of those who get it will die and a further per cent will suffer severe after-effects.

"This vaccine will help save lives and will significantly reduce the burden of the disease."

Children in the under-two age group are the most likely to catch these illnesses. Of those that survive, 50 per cent are left with permanent disabilities such as brain damage, deafness and cerebral palsy.

Meanwhile, a vaccination programme against cervical cancer in primary schools is also being considered. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises the Department of Health, is examining the possibility of vaccinating young girls against the human papilloma virus, which is spread by sexual activity.