Britain's NHS Launches World's First Meningitis B Vaccination Program

Meningitis is an infection of the meninges (protective membranes) that surround the brain and the spinal cord. Britain's National Health Service (NHS) on Tuesday, September 1, 2015, has became the world's first public health body to agree to administer a new vaccine against the potentially deadly meningitis B infection.

Experts said, "The vaccine could potentially prevent over 4,000 cases of meningococcal disease in children under five in Britain. Infants aged under one are most at risk of the infection, which is fatal one in 10 cases."

Steve Dayman, founder of the charity Meningitis Now said, "We, along with our supporters, have campaigned for over two years to see the ground-breaking vaccine free on the NHS. I'm absolutely elated that we now have this vaccine being used to protect our babies. I've waited 33 years since losing my baby to the same strain for this day to happen."

Source: IANS