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A vaccination programme offering protection infants protection against the life-threatening meningitis B strain of brain infection is underway.

From now on the jab is introduced to the routine childhood immunisation.

Babies will get the vaccination in three doses at two, four and 12 months.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has also advised that there should be a one-off, catch-up programme for infants aged three and four months of age who will be attending for their routine vaccinations when the programme starts.

Infants under one year of age are most at risk of MenB and the number of cases peak at around five months of age.

Around 1,200 people – mainly babies and children – get meningitis B each year in the UK, and around one in 10 die from the infection.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said:"We’re delighted to be one of the first countries in the world to introduce a nationwide Men B vaccination programme to help tackle the effects of this disease, which can be devastating for children and their families.

“The Scottish Government has been consistent in its support for the introduction of this vaccine, which underlines our commitment to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our children.

“The programme will offer families in Scotland extra peace of mind at what should be a such a happy time in their lives.”

Meningitis Research Foundation Scotland manager Mary Millar said the vaccine would save many lives and spare countless families the trauma of seeing a loved one die or become seriously disabled.

She urged people to watch out for symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia as some forms of the disease are not covered by vaccines.

 

Meningitis B immunisation programme begins

 

3 September 2015