UK introduces new meningitis C vaccine

A vaccination programme against meningococcal group C infection is to start this October in the United Kingdom in a bid to halve the total number of deaths from meningitis. The United Kingdom will be the first country in the world to implement such a vaccination programme following the development of a new meningitis C vaccine.

The new vaccine, unlike the existing one, provides long term protection and can be used in babies and young children. The meningococcal surface polysaccharide is conjugated with a protein using similar technology to that used for the first time with the haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine.

Three manufacturers have developed the vaccine. One has submitted a licence application with the Medicines Control Agency and …