Breaking News re MenB Vaccine

[MNClaireD]

The Department of Health has announced that it is working to introduce the Meningitis B vaccine to the childhood vaccination programme.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have recommended that the vaccine is introduced ...

[vasco]

Great news So happy at last

[stagehand5]

Great news. I live in the states so hopefully we can get it here soon. I would like to know if this vaccine will work on adults and for children what are the ages. I talked to my family doctor about meningitis and of course he is a general practionier and he said he hasn't dealt with it much and with my case of B meningitis the cases are rare. I caught it in 2011 so that is why I am seeking answers so much and this organization has helped me so much. Thank You for being here

[MNClaireD Partner Meningitis Now]

Hi

I am glad you have found our organisation to be helpful.. To answer your question about the new MenB vaccine, it has been licenced for use in Europe for individuals aged 2 months of age and older (including adults). It is thought to protect against 88% of the MenB strains circulating in the UK. However, until the vaccine is in regular use, the true impact of this vaccine will not really be known.

More information about the vaccine can be found here:meningitisnow.org/about-us/...

[daffodil]

Wonderful news and good to think that all our petition signing,letters t 0MPS and the great campaign put forward by the Meningitis charities has had a result!

Can I ask if the jab can be requested for adults .My children are going off to University soon.Would they have to pay for vaccine?

[MNClaireD Partner Meningitis Now]

Hi, yes the vaccine has been licenced for anyone over the age of 2 months so adults can have it too.

At the moment it is only available privately. When it is introduced into the NHS it will only be given to newborns (up to age 4 mths) at present. Anyone older will not be able to obtain the vaccine through the NHS (unless they are at high risk - e.g people who have certain immune conditions or no spleen/spleen dysfunction).

Getting hold of the vaccine privately, is proving a challenge for many, but worth asking your GP in the first instance.