Routine Vaccinations
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Hib meningitis is caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria and was a major cause of meningitis and septicaemia in children in the UK prior to the introduction of the Hib vaccine in 1992.
This vaccine is given as part of the Childhood Immunisation Programme to babies aged two, three and four months and recently a new booster dose has been introduced (from September 2006) for babies aged 12 months.
Since the Hib vaccine was introduced in 1992, cases in children under five have dropped by 99 per cent from about 800 cases per year to 12 cases per year in 2008.
Meningococcal Group C
A vaccine to protect against Meningitis C has been available in the UK since 1999. Following its introduction, an extensive immunisation programme was carried out to offer the vaccine to all children up to the age of 18. Before the introduction of this vaccine, Meningitis C was the second most common cause of meningococcal meningitis in the UK.
Babies are routinely offered the vaccine. Before September 2006, the vaccine was given to babies in three doses at two, three and four months of age. These doses have now been respaced so babies receive the vaccine at three, four and 12 months to make the protection more effective.
Since 2002, the vaccine has also been available to anyone under the age of 25 from their GP. It is also available to students entering higher education for the first time, regardless of their age.
Read a report marking the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the Meningitis C vaccination (PDF).
Since its introduction in 1999, the number of cases of meningococcal group C have reduced by 99%. Figures show there were only 13 cases in 2008/09 compared to 955 in 1998/99. However, a recent study at the University of Oxford published in June 2008 revealed that one in five adolescents aged 11 to 13 may have inadequate protection against meningitis C and a booster dose may be needed.
Another study, also published in June 2008 and led by Professor Tang at Imperial College London and funded by Meningitis UK, showed that the bacteria has the potential to avoid attack by a simple change in its genetic sequence. Three meningitis C strains were identified which have enhanced resistance against the antibodies produced by the body after vaccination. It is possible that this could undermine the effectiveness of the vaccine, although there is no evidence for this so far. Work is now needed to investigate the extent of the genetic change in people who have had meningococcal infection.
Pneumococcal Meningitis
Pneumococcal meningitis - caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae - is one of the most deadly types of the disease. There are over 90 different strains of pneumococcal bacteria. There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines available in the UK:
- 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) protects against the 13 of the most common forms of the pneumococcal bacterium. These strains are responsible for around three-quarters of invasive disease in children under five years of age in the UK. The polysaccharide components are combined with a non-toxic form of the Diphtheria toxin protein to provide longer-lasting protection. A vaccine protecting against 7 strains of pneumococcal bacterium was introduced into the Routine Immunisation Programme in 2006 for all under-twos in the UK. An improved vaccine protecting against 13 strains replaced this in April 2010. Three doses are offered to babies at two, four and thirteen months, and may be combined with PPV for children over five who have health conditions that put them at higher risk of disease (PPV should only be given at least two months after the PCV dose). In the two years since the pneumococcal vaccine was introduced, it is estimated that over 900 serious cases have been prevented, saving over 50 lives.
- 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPV) provides relatively short-term protection against 23 subtypes of the bacterium (accounting for 96% of pneumococcal disease in the UK). Since 2005, PPV has been recommended for all adults over the age of 65. It may also be given to adults and older children who are deemed to be particularly at risk, for example those who suffer from diabetes, heart disease, or have a compromised immune system due to HIV or chemotherapy. PPV does not work in children under two. Children with at risk conditions are offered the more extensive 23-valent PPV in the second year of life, at least two months after their final dose of PPV.
In the two years since the pneumococcal vaccine was introduced, it is estimated that over 900 cases of serious childhood illness, such as pneumococcal meningitis, have been prevented, saving over 50 lives.
However, there has been an increase in the strains that are not in the vaccine, so important work still needs to be done. Just one example of this is data presented at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health annual scientific conference in 2008 which showed a rise in serotype 1 strain which may be coming in to "fill the ecological gap".
UK Routine Childhood Immunisation Schedule
|
Age of immunisation |
|
| 2 months | DTaP/IPV/Hib + PCV |
| 3 months | DTap/IPV/Hib + MenC |
| 4 months | DTap/IPV/Hib + MenC + PCV |
| 12-13 months | Hib/MenC + PCV + MMR |
DTaP/IPV/Hib is a single vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib.
MMR protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
For more information about the full Routine Immunisation Programme please visit the NHS Choices Immunisation website which includes a personalised wall planner that you can create for your child.
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