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| Meningitis B vaccine needed urgently, campaigners say | Meningitis B vaccine needed urgently, campaigners say |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Delays in introducing a vaccine that protects against a deadly form of meningitis are putting the lives of children at risk, campaigners say. | Delays in introducing a vaccine that protects against a deadly form of meningitis are putting the lives of children at risk, campaigners say. |
| A year ago, expert advisers for the government recommended the meningitis B vaccine be given to babies from two months old across the UK on the NHS. | A year ago, expert advisers for the government recommended the meningitis B vaccine be given to babies from two months old across the UK on the NHS. |
| But a cost-effective price has not yet been agreed with the manufacturers. | But a cost-effective price has not yet been agreed with the manufacturers. |
| The Department of Health said it wanted to see the vaccine introduced as soon as possible. | The Department of Health said it wanted to see the vaccine introduced as soon as possible. |
| The manufacturers, GSK, said they would be continuing discussions with the government. | The manufacturers, GSK, said they would be continuing discussions with the government. |
| Meanwhile, meningitis charities are calling for urgent action from the prime minister and the health secretary to conclude negotiations and introduce the vaccine. | Meanwhile, meningitis charities are calling for urgent action from the prime minister and the health secretary to conclude negotiations and introduce the vaccine. |
| Long-term problems | Long-term problems |
| Meningitis is a bacterial infection that usually affects children under the age of one. | Meningitis is a bacterial infection that usually affects children under the age of one. |
| There are about 1,870 cases of meningitis B each year in the UK. | There are about 1,870 cases of meningitis B each year in the UK. |
| Symptoms include a high fever with cold hands and feet, confusion, vomiting and headaches. | Symptoms include a high fever with cold hands and feet, confusion, vomiting and headaches. |
| With early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment, most children will make a full recovery. | With early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment, most children will make a full recovery. |
| But it is fatal in one in 10 cases - and about one in four of those who survive is left with long-term problems, such as amputation, deafness, epilepsy and learning difficulties. | But it is fatal in one in 10 cases - and about one in four of those who survive is left with long-term problems, such as amputation, deafness, epilepsy and learning difficulties. |
| A Department of Health spokesman said: "We are very clear that we want to see this vaccine introduced as soon as possible to help protect children from this devastating disease. | A Department of Health spokesman said: "We are very clear that we want to see this vaccine introduced as soon as possible to help protect children from this devastating disease. |
| "The JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) recommended that a MenB vaccine be introduced, but only at a cost-effective price - below the price published by the manufacturer. We need to make sure NHS funds are used as effectively as possible and negotiations are continuing." | "The JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) recommended that a MenB vaccine be introduced, but only at a cost-effective price - below the price published by the manufacturer. We need to make sure NHS funds are used as effectively as possible and negotiations are continuing." |
| GSK said the list price of one dose of Bexsero - the vaccine in question - was £75. | |
| The company recently acquired Bexsero as part of a recent transaction with Novartis. | The company recently acquired Bexsero as part of a recent transaction with Novartis. |
| What is meningitis? | What is meningitis? |
| • Meningitis is an infection of the meninges - the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord | • Meningitis is an infection of the meninges - the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord |
| • Meningococcal bacteria are common and carried harmlessly in the nose or throat by about one in 10 people | • Meningococcal bacteria are common and carried harmlessly in the nose or throat by about one in 10 people |
| • They are passed on through close contact | • They are passed on through close contact |
| • Anyone can get meningitis but babies and young children are most vulnerable | • Anyone can get meningitis but babies and young children are most vulnerable |
| • Symptoms include a high fever with cold hands and feet, agitation, confusion, vomiting and headaches. | • Symptoms include a high fever with cold hands and feet, agitation, confusion, vomiting and headaches. |
| Q&A: Meningitis B vaccine | Q&A: Meningitis B vaccine |
| 'Limited budget' | 'Limited budget' |
| Sue Davie, from charity Meningitis Now, said: "Too many of our children are needlessly dying or being left disabled due to this lethargic bureaucracy and this government's inability to conclude a deal. | Sue Davie, from charity Meningitis Now, said: "Too many of our children are needlessly dying or being left disabled due to this lethargic bureaucracy and this government's inability to conclude a deal. |
| "How can it take eight months for two parties to negotiate on one item, especially when that item is a vaccine that will save lives and prevent disability?" | "How can it take eight months for two parties to negotiate on one item, especially when that item is a vaccine that will save lives and prevent disability?" |
| She said the UK had one of the world's highest meningitis B rates, killing more of the country's under-fives than any other infectious illness. | She said the UK had one of the world's highest meningitis B rates, killing more of the country's under-fives than any other infectious illness. |
| Prof Matthew Snape, a consultant in general paediatrics and vaccinology at the Children's Hospital, Oxford, told BBC Breakfast it was "very frustrating for everyone involved" that negotiations were still under way. | Prof Matthew Snape, a consultant in general paediatrics and vaccinology at the Children's Hospital, Oxford, told BBC Breakfast it was "very frustrating for everyone involved" that negotiations were still under way. |
| Prof Snape, who works with the Oxford Vaccine Group, which conducted clinical trials on the vaccine, said: "The published suggested cost effective price is between £3 and £7 per dose and the listed price is around £75 a dose, so there's a big discrepancy there and there has been a year of negotiation. | Prof Snape, who works with the Oxford Vaccine Group, which conducted clinical trials on the vaccine, said: "The published suggested cost effective price is between £3 and £7 per dose and the listed price is around £75 a dose, so there's a big discrepancy there and there has been a year of negotiation. |
| "It's very frustrating for everyone involved. Seeing children come in with Men B disease - that's clearly very frustrating." | "It's very frustrating for everyone involved. Seeing children come in with Men B disease - that's clearly very frustrating." |
| But he added: "We can't ignore health economics. | But he added: "We can't ignore health economics. |
| "There's a limited budget in the NHS and that has to be used in the most effective way possible." | "There's a limited budget in the NHS and that has to be used in the most effective way possible." |
| Dr Ian Maconichie, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said a decision was needed urgently. | Dr Ian Maconichie, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said a decision was needed urgently. |
| "One year on, we appeal that a decision is made imminently, so should the vaccine be introduced, it can begin to save children's lives and spare some from severe preventable disability as soon as possible." | "One year on, we appeal that a decision is made imminently, so should the vaccine be introduced, it can begin to save children's lives and spare some from severe preventable disability as soon as possible." |
| There are several different strains of meningitis infection. | There are several different strains of meningitis infection. |
| Vaccines are already given to babies in the UK to protect against meningitis C. | Vaccines are already given to babies in the UK to protect against meningitis C. |
| Last week, Public Health England announced that teenagers would soon be vaccinated against meningitis W after a steep rise in the number of cases. | Last week, Public Health England announced that teenagers would soon be vaccinated against meningitis W after a steep rise in the number of cases. |
| Prof Snape said the meningitis B vaccine would also protect against meningitis W however, which was another reason he believed it should be introduced. | Prof Snape said the meningitis B vaccine would also protect against meningitis W however, which was another reason he believed it should be introduced. |
| The parents of 16-month-old Harmonie-Rose Allen, who lost all her limbs after contracting meningitis B said they did not want other families to suffer as they had. | The parents of 16-month-old Harmonie-Rose Allen, who lost all her limbs after contracting meningitis B said they did not want other families to suffer as they had. |
| Her mother Freya Hall said of the vaccine: "I just don't know why it's not in yet. I am so upset that it's not brought in." | Her mother Freya Hall said of the vaccine: "I just don't know why it's not in yet. I am so upset that it's not brought in." |
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