Meningitis vaccine gets Europe nod

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/22/meningitis-vaccine-europe-approval-novartis

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Families who have lost children to meningitis B are among campaigners pressing the government to introduce a new vaccine against the disease, following its approval by the European Medicines Agency.

The UK has one of the highest rates of meningitis B in the world, according to the charity Meningitis UK, affecting 1,870 people a year, many of them children. The bacterial disease is particularly frightening for families because the onset is so rapid and unpredictable. It can kill within hours or cause brain damage or loss of a limb. A tell-tale sign of the most dangerous form — meningococcal septicaemia — is a rash on a child's skin which does not go away when pressed with the base of a glass.

The new vaccine from Novartis, called Bexsero, does not protect against all strains of meningitis B – only about 73%. But, say charities, it should save lives.

The decision on whether to include the vaccine in routine immunisation programmes for babies will be taken by the government's advisory body, the joint committee on vaccines and immunisation, which will look at the need, the efficacy of the vaccine, whether it interacts with other vaccines and the cost.

New vaccines are launched at a high price, which comes down when they have been around for many years and are out of patent, as with common vaccines like measles and rubella.

Steve Dayman, founder of Meningitis UK, said: "This ground-breaking vaccine is the most important development since I lost my son to meningitis 30 years ago.

"The government must introduce the meningitis B vaccine into the immunisation schedule as soon as possible — it will save thousands of lives and spare families so much suffering. Any delay means lives will be lost.

"The last major meningitis vaccine took five years to be introduced — we cannot wait that long again."

"Cost shouldn't be a barrier for this vaccine either — you cannot put a price on life."

The Meningitis Trust also called for speedy action. Sue Davie, chief executive said: "It's wonderful news that this new vaccine has now been licensed, but licensing alone will not save lives. That will only happen when the vaccine is introduced into the childhood immunisation programme. And this can't happen soon enough."