Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccination programme in England
In school years 9 to 13?
Protect yourself against meningitis and septicemia - please read the leaflet below for more information.
Meningitis B Vaccine for babies
A new vaccine to prevent meningitis is being offered to babies as part of the routine NHS childhood vaccination programme.
The Men B vaccine is recommended for babies aged 2 months, followed by a second dose at 4 months, and a booster at 12 months.
There is also a temporary catch-up programme for babies who are due their 3- and 4-month vaccinations in September 2015, to protect them when they are most at risk from infection.
The Men B vaccine will protect your baby against infection by meningococcal group B bacteria, which are responsible for more than 90% of meningococcal infections in young children.
Please view the NHS Choices website for further information:
Shingles vaccine to be routine for people in their 70s
People in their 70s across the UK will be offered a vaccine against shingles from this September. Experts have been recommending routine immunisation against the disease, which causes a painful rash, some patients can experience prolonged pain for many years. The government-led programme will target 70-72 years old (2/9/1942-1/9/1945), 78-79 year olds (2/9/1935-1/9/1937) in the first instance and should prevent tens of thousands of cases a year. Elderly people are at greatest risk, the vaccination should prevent nearly half of cases in the over-70s.
It is estimated that, in England alone, around 800,000 people will be eligible to receive it in the first year.
Shingles can be a nasty disease for older people and can lead to long-term health problems for around 14,000 people each year. This new vaccine can prevent some of the most serious cases, giving people the chance to live without the discomfort and pain that shingles causes.