30.03.15
MenB vaccine added to child immunisation schedule
All babies in the UK will soon have access to a potentially life-saving vaccine against meningitis B (MenB) after a successful conclusion to negotiations over cost.
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has stated that, after reaching a deal with drug maker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the country will become the first to have a national MenB vaccination programme.
GSK’s Bexsero MenB vaccine, which was recommended by health experts a year ago, has now been added to the national childhood immunisation scheme.
It will mean that babies will receive the first vaccine at two months old, followed by two further doses at four months and 12 months old.
Discussions between the department and the drug company over the price of the vaccine began in August last year, following the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Hunt said: “I am very proud that we will be the first country in the world to have a nationwide MenB vaccination programme, helping to protect our children from a devastating disease.
“MenB can be severely disabling or fatal, especially in babies and young children. Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare so I am delighted that we have reached an agreement with GSK to supply the vaccine.”
Young children and adolescents are most at risk of MenB, which leads to death in 10% of all cases and to long-term after effects in a further 36%.
The vaccine, Bexsero, is thought to provide 73% protection against meningitis B, which should significantly reduce the number of cases.
Dr Ian Maconichie, registrar at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said he was delighted that the MenB vaccine is going to be made available for all babies in the UK.
“This decision will undoubtedly decrease mortality and morbidity rates and reduce the burden meningitis can have on children and their families,” he added.
Despite the delay in the process due to cost, Chris Head, chief executive of Meningitis Research Foundation, added that MenB has been at the top of the charity’s agenda for decades and he is delighted that vaccinating all babies against “this devastating disease is now within sight, cementing the UK’s position as a world leader in meningitis prevention”.
A GSK spokesperson added: “We have moved rapidly to conclude negotiations since we acquired the vaccine from Novartis at the beginning of March.
“We believe the agreement we have reached offers fair value for the NHS and allows a reasonable return for GSK to ensure that we can continue to invest in creating new treatments and vaccines.”
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