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| 'Breakthrough' meningitis B vaccine set to receive UK licence | 'Breakthrough' meningitis B vaccine set to receive UK licence |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A vaccine to protect children against one of the most common and deadly forms of meningitis is set to be licensed for use in the UK. | A vaccine to protect children against one of the most common and deadly forms of meningitis is set to be licensed for use in the UK. |
| An average of 1,870 children contract meningitis B each year and one in 10 of them die. | An average of 1,870 children contract meningitis B each year and one in 10 of them die. |
| The 4CMenB vaccine, developed by Novartis, has been described as the "biggest leap forward in the field" in 30 years by the charity Meningitis UK. | The 4CMenB vaccine, developed by Novartis, has been described as the "biggest leap forward in the field" in 30 years by the charity Meningitis UK. |
| The jab was recommended for approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). | The jab was recommended for approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). |
| About a quarter of all survivors of meningitis B are left with life altering after-effects, such as brain damage or limb loss. | |
| Children under the age of five are the most at risk from the bacterial infection, which leads to inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. | Children under the age of five are the most at risk from the bacterial infection, which leads to inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. |
| 'Landmark moment' | 'Landmark moment' |
| Recommendations from the EMA are normally endorsed by the European Commission within two or three months. | Recommendations from the EMA are normally endorsed by the European Commission within two or three months. |
| The vaccine, known as Bexsero, is expected to receive its UK licence early next year. It has been recommended for use in children aged two months and older. | The vaccine, known as Bexsero, is expected to receive its UK licence early next year. It has been recommended for use in children aged two months and older. |
| Meningitis UK have described the breakthrough as a "landmark moment in the fight against meningitis" and want the jab to be introduced into the government's routine immunisation schedule as a priority. | Meningitis UK have described the breakthrough as a "landmark moment in the fight against meningitis" and want the jab to be introduced into the government's routine immunisation schedule as a priority. |
| The charity's founder Steve Dayman, whose baby son died of meningitis and septicaemia in 1982, said: "It is vital that the vaccine is introduced in the UK immunisation schedule as soon as possible. | The charity's founder Steve Dayman, whose baby son died of meningitis and septicaemia in 1982, said: "It is vital that the vaccine is introduced in the UK immunisation schedule as soon as possible. |
| "It will save countless lives and prevent many people enduring the suffering caused by this devastating disease. | "It will save countless lives and prevent many people enduring the suffering caused by this devastating disease. |
| "We will be campaigning hard to make the government introduce it." | "We will be campaigning hard to make the government introduce it." |
| It has taken Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis 20 years to develop the vaccine, which has been complicated by the many different strains of the infection. | It has taken Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis 20 years to develop the vaccine, which has been complicated by the many different strains of the infection. |
| Andrin Oswald, head of vaccines at Novartis, said: "We are proud of the major advance that our meningococcal group B vaccine represents within the field of vaccine development against what up until now has been a very challenging disease target." | Andrin Oswald, head of vaccines at Novartis, said: "We are proud of the major advance that our meningococcal group B vaccine represents within the field of vaccine development against what up until now has been a very challenging disease target." |
| Studies have shown the jab is likely to be effective against 73% of the different variations of meningitis B. | Studies have shown the jab is likely to be effective against 73% of the different variations of meningitis B. |
| A vaccine against the less common meningitis C has been administered since 1999 and is now widely given to babies in the first year of their life. | A vaccine against the less common meningitis C has been administered since 1999 and is now widely given to babies in the first year of their life. |
| It has led to a large fall in the number of cases in people under the age of 20. | It has led to a large fall in the number of cases in people under the age of 20. |
| The decision on whether to introduce the vaccine to the immunisation schedule will be made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, who advise the Government on vaccination. | The decision on whether to introduce the vaccine to the immunisation schedule will be made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, who advise the Government on vaccination. |