Meningitis jab for every baby

Thursday 03 September 2015

Every baby in Jersey will be vaccinated against the life-threatening Meningitis B virus in a campaign starting this week.

Babies will be given the new vaccine at two months, four months and 12 months old – vaccination at these times helps protect the infants when they are most at risk from developing the “very serious and life-threatening” disease.

Parents are being asked to follow up the jab with paracetamol, to avoid the fever that doctors are warning may last for several days.

Jersey has seen 12 cases of meningitis in the past 14 years, most of which were Meningitis B cases - UK statistics show that around ten per cent of people who contract the infection die, while many others are left with permanent disabilities.

Dr Linda Diggle, Head of Healthcare Programmes said: “Parents should give paracetamol just after vaccination to help prevent fever developing.”

The fever is nearly always mild and gone within two days.

Dr Diggle said: “All it means is that the baby’s body is responding to the vaccine, although the level of fever depends on the individual child and does not indicate how well the vaccine has worked – some infants may not develop a fever at all.

“Giving paracetamol reduces the chances of getting fever by more than a half. The very good news is that babies protected by this new vaccine are less likely to develop the very serious and life-threatening illness which is meningitis.”

Meningitis B can affect people of any age; but it is most common in babies and children under five. Tests suggest the new vaccine will protect against 90 per cent of meningitis B strains in the UK – potentially saving around 4,000 children from the infection.

“This is a disease that can be truly devastating for babies and their families. I am sure parents will want to take up the offer of this vaccine which will help save lives and prevent permanent disability,” said Dr Diggle.