Meningitis UK's response to pneumococcal vaccine threat
Meningitis UK was concerned to hear about the news on the BBC today (April 14) about a strain of the pneumococcal bacteria which is on the rise in England and Wales and can cause meningitis.
Meningitis UK's Chief Executive Steve Dayman said: "The pneumococcal vaccine introduced into the routine childhood immunisation programme in 2006 was a significant step towards our goal of finding a vaccine to eradicate all forms of meningitis. Estimates show that in its first year, the vaccine prevented over 300 cases of serious childhood illness such as pneumococcal meningitis.
"However, there are more than 90 types of pneumococcal disease and the current vaccine only protects against 7 of the most common of these. It is also not currently known how long protection lasts. The new data which shows a rise in serotype 1 pneumococcal proves there is still a long way to go before the disease can be eradicated completely, so it is vital that research continues.
"Meningitis UK is currently funding research which will prove vital in helping to develop more targeted and effective pnemococcal vaccine strategies, which could provide longer lasting protection. We remain hopeful that there will be a vaccine to protect against all forms of meningitis in the UK in years to come."
For more information about Meningitis UK, or to support the charity's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, call 0117 373 7373 or visit www.meningitisUK.org.
MeningitisUK · Registered Charity No.1076774
