This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/02/government-rejects-calls-for-meningitis-b-vaccine-to-be-given-to-all-children

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Government rejects calls for meningitis B vaccine to be given to all children Government rejects calls for meningitis B vaccine for all children
(about 1 hour later)
The government has rejected calls for the meningitis B vaccine to be given to children of all ages, saying it would not be cost effective for the NHS. The government has rejected calls for the meningitis B vaccine to be given to children of all ages, saying it would not be cost-effective for the NHS.
More than 815,000 people have now signed a petition calling for the jab Bexsero to be given to all children, not just newborn babies. More than 815,000 people have signed a petition calling for the jab Bexsero to be given to all children, not just newborn babies.
But in a response to the petition, the Department of Health said its priority was to vaccinate those children considered most at risk from meningitis B. But in a response to the petition, the Department of Health (DoH) said its priority was to vaccinate those children considered most at risk from meningitis B.
The petition – which calls for all children to be vaccinated or at least those up to age 11 – is the most signed online petition in parliamentary history. The petition – which calls for all children to be vaccinated, or at least those up to age 11 – is the biggest online petition in parliamentary history.
It gathered momentum after the parents of Faye Burdett, from Maidstone, shared pictures of her dying from meningitis B on social media.
Related: If you knew my son, you’d sign the petition for a meningitis B vaccination | Claire ShalaRelated: If you knew my son, you’d sign the petition for a meningitis B vaccination | Claire Shala
Two-year-old Faye died on Valentine’s Day after fighting the infection for 11 days. It gathered momentum after the parents of Faye Burdett, from Maidstone, shared pictures of her dying from meningitis B on social media.
Her mother Jenny said the family had endured “a pain you cannot describe” after the toddler contracted the bug. Two-year-old Faye died on Valentine’s Day after fighting the infection for 11 days. Her mother Jenny said the family had endured “a pain you cannot describe” after the toddler contracted the bug.
The plight of meningitis sufferers was also raised by ex-England rugby captain Matt Dawson, who told how his two-year-old son Sam battled – and survived – meningitis C. The plight of meningitis sufferers was also raised by former England rugby captain Matt Dawson, who recounted how his two-year-old son Sam survived meningitis C.
The Department of Health pointed out it was following guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the government on the cost-effectiveness of vaccinations. It pointed out that the UK is the only country in the world to introduce a national, publicly-funded meningitis B immunisation programme for babies using Bexsero. The DoH pointed out it was following guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the government on the cost-effectiveness of vaccinations. It pointed out that the UK is the only country in the world to introduce a national, publicly funded meningitis B immunisation programme for babies using Bexsero.
The statement said: “The NHS budget is a finite resource. It is therefore essential that JCVI’s recommendations are underpinned by evidence of cost-effectiveness.The statement said: “The NHS budget is a finite resource. It is therefore essential that JCVI’s recommendations are underpinned by evidence of cost-effectiveness.
“Offering the vaccine outside of JCVI’s advice would not be cost effective, and would not therefore represent a good use of NHS resources which should be used to benefit the health and care of the most people possible. “Offering the vaccine outside of JCVI’s advice would not be cost-effective, and would not therefore represent a good use of NHS resources, which should be used to benefit the health and care of the most people possible.
“When any new immunisation programme is introduced, there has to be a cut-off date to determine eligibility. “When any new immunisation programme is introduced, there has to be a cut-off date to determine eligibility. While this is extremely difficult for parents whose children aren’t eligible, there is no other way of establishing new programmes to target those at highest risk without introducing inequalities.”
“While this is extremely difficult for parents whose children aren’t eligible, there is no other way of establishing new programmes to target those at highest risk without introducing inequalities.” The Bexsero vaccine is available on the NHS for babies aged two months, followed by a second dose at four months and a booster at 12 months. Parents who wish to have older children vaccinated must pay privately, although a worldwide shortage of Bexsero means stocks are low.
The Bexsero vaccine is available on the NHS for babies aged two months, followed by a second dose at four months and a booster at 12 months.
Parents who wish to have older children vaccinated must pay privately, although a worldwide shortage of Bexsero means stocks are currently low.
Manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline hopes to have increased stocks in the UK by the summer. The NHS programme is unaffected.Manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline hopes to have increased stocks in the UK by the summer. The NHS programme is unaffected.