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| Meningitis B vaccine offered to all babies from September | Meningitis B vaccine offered to all babies from September |
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| All newborn babies in England and Scotland are to be offered a vaccine to combat meningitis B from September, the government has announced. | All newborn babies in England and Scotland are to be offered a vaccine to combat meningitis B from September, the government has announced. |
| The Men B vaccine will be given to babies at two months, four months and 12 months old. | The Men B vaccine will be given to babies at two months, four months and 12 months old. |
| The scheme, which has been delayed by cost disputes, is the first national and publicly-funded programme against the deadly infection in the world. | The scheme, which has been delayed by cost disputes, is the first national and publicly-funded programme against the deadly infection in the world. |
| Meningitis charities said the move would "save lives" straight away. | Meningitis charities said the move would "save lives" straight away. |
| From August, another meningitis vaccine - Men ACWY - will be offered to 17 and 18-year-olds and students starting university this year. | From August, another meningitis vaccine - Men ACWY - will be offered to 17 and 18-year-olds and students starting university this year. |
| Negotiations over the cost of the new baby vaccine which were finally resolved in March, meaning the Men B programme will be rolled out in England and Scotland from 1 September, with Wales and Northern Ireland expected to follow suit shortly afterwards. | Negotiations over the cost of the new baby vaccine which were finally resolved in March, meaning the Men B programme will be rolled out in England and Scotland from 1 September, with Wales and Northern Ireland expected to follow suit shortly afterwards. |
| The vaccine will be offered alongside other routine infant vaccines through the NHS childhood immunisation programme, the Department of Health and Scottish Government said. | The vaccine will be offered alongside other routine infant vaccines through the NHS childhood immunisation programme, the Department of Health and Scottish Government said. |
| Tests suggest that the new Men B vaccine, called Bexsero, will protect against around 90% of the meningococcal group-B bacteria strains circulating in the UK. | Tests suggest that the new Men B vaccine, called Bexsero, will protect against around 90% of the meningococcal group-B bacteria strains circulating in the UK. |
| Meningitis B is a bacterial infection that particularly affects babies under the age of one and is also common in children under five. | Meningitis B is a bacterial infection that particularly affects babies under the age of one and is also common in children under five. |
| During the last two years, there have been 1,200 cases of Men B across all age groups and 300 of them occurred in babies under one year old. | During the last two years, there have been 1,200 cases of Men B across all age groups and 300 of them occurred in babies under one year old. |
| The disease infects the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. If the infection is left untreated, Men B can cause severe brain damage and blood poisoning - and in some cases, it can kill. One in 10 babies affected dies. | The disease infects the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. If the infection is left untreated, Men B can cause severe brain damage and blood poisoning - and in some cases, it can kill. One in 10 babies affected dies. |
| 'Delighted' | 'Delighted' |
| Public health minister Jane Ellison said: "I am very proud that we will be able to offer families extra peace of mind with these new vaccination programmes from this summer. | Public health minister Jane Ellison said: "I am very proud that we will be able to offer families extra peace of mind with these new vaccination programmes from this summer. |
| "The nationwide meningitis B programme will mean that England leads the world in offering children protection from this devastating disease." | "The nationwide meningitis B programme will mean that England leads the world in offering children protection from this devastating disease." |
| And Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison said: "These two new vaccination programmes will offer families in Scotland extra peace of mind. | And Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison said: "These two new vaccination programmes will offer families in Scotland extra peace of mind. |
| "We're delighted to be one of the first countries in the world to introduce a nationwide Men B vaccination programme to help tackle the effects of this disease, which can be devastating for children and their families." | "We're delighted to be one of the first countries in the world to introduce a nationwide Men B vaccination programme to help tackle the effects of this disease, which can be devastating for children and their families." |
| What is meningitis? | What is meningitis? |
| Q&A: Meningitis B vaccine | Q&A: Meningitis B vaccine |
| Danny Sweatman, from Norfolk, lost two brothers to meningitis. Since then the family has raised £80,000 for meningitis research and he told BBC Radio 5 live there was lots of campaigning still to do. | Danny Sweatman, from Norfolk, lost two brothers to meningitis. Since then the family has raised £80,000 for meningitis research and he told BBC Radio 5 live there was lots of campaigning still to do. |
| "So we'll never stop. It keeps us busy. It keeps our minds focused on meningitis itself and ensuring that other families don't go through what we have been." | "So we'll never stop. It keeps us busy. It keeps our minds focused on meningitis itself and ensuring that other families don't go through what we have been." |
| 'Stay vigilant' | 'Stay vigilant' |
| Meningitis Now, which has campaigned to get the Men B vaccine free on the NHS, welcomed the announcement. | Meningitis Now, which has campaigned to get the Men B vaccine free on the NHS, welcomed the announcement. |
| Chief executive Sue Davie said: "We're delighted that this milestone in the journey to introduce these vaccines and protect our babies and young people from the devastation meningitis causes has been reached. | Chief executive Sue Davie said: "We're delighted that this milestone in the journey to introduce these vaccines and protect our babies and young people from the devastation meningitis causes has been reached. |
| "These measures will start to save lives straight away and for years to come." | "These measures will start to save lives straight away and for years to come." |
| But she warned that there were still meningitis strains for which there were no vaccines. | But she warned that there were still meningitis strains for which there were no vaccines. |
| "It's vital to learn the signs and symptoms, stay vigilant and seek immediate medical help if you suspect the disease." | "It's vital to learn the signs and symptoms, stay vigilant and seek immediate medical help if you suspect the disease." |
| Symptoms include a high fever with cold hands and feet, confusion, vomiting and headaches. Most children will make a full recovery with early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment but about one in four of those who survive is left with long-term problems, such as amputation, deafness, epilepsy and learning difficulties. | Symptoms include a high fever with cold hands and feet, confusion, vomiting and headaches. Most children will make a full recovery with early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment but about one in four of those who survive is left with long-term problems, such as amputation, deafness, epilepsy and learning difficulties. |
| Vaccine for students | Vaccine for students |
| The Men ACWY vaccine - which protects against four different types of meningitis: A, C, W and Y - will be given to all 17 and 18-year-olds in England and Scotland from August. | The Men ACWY vaccine - which protects against four different types of meningitis: A, C, W and Y - will be given to all 17 and 18-year-olds in England and Scotland from August. |
| The programme will also offer the vaccine to young people aged 19 to 25 who are starting university later this year. | The programme will also offer the vaccine to young people aged 19 to 25 who are starting university later this year. |
| The vaccine will protect them against meningitis W (Men W) disease, which has seen a sharp rise in cases as a result of a particularly deadly strain of Men W bacteria. | The vaccine will protect them against meningitis W (Men W) disease, which has seen a sharp rise in cases as a result of a particularly deadly strain of Men W bacteria. |
| These age groups are at high risk of infection because of close contact in shared accommodation, such as university halls of residence. | These age groups are at high risk of infection because of close contact in shared accommodation, such as university halls of residence. |
| Health officials in Northern Ireland said there were plans to get funding in place to introduce the Men ACWY and Men B programmes in line with the rest of the UK. | Health officials in Northern Ireland said there were plans to get funding in place to introduce the Men ACWY and Men B programmes in line with the rest of the UK. |
| In Wales, a Men ACWY vaccination programme for teenagers and young people is still under consideration. | In Wales, a Men ACWY vaccination programme for teenagers and young people is still under consideration. |