§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department will introduce a vaccine for bacterial meningitis; for what age groups of children the bacterial meningitis vaccine will be introduced and at what times in the immunisation schedule; what plans the Department of Health has to publicise the introduction of the bacterial meningitis vaccine; and what number of children he estimates will be given the bacterial meningitis vaccine during 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995.
§ Mr. DorrellWe plan to introduce a vaccine against haemophilus influezae b (Hib), the most common cause of bacterial meningitis, from 1 October 1992. Subject to the outcome of studies in progress in Gloucester and Oxford, the recommendation will be for the vaccine to be given in three doses at ages two, three, and four months—at the same time as immunisation against diphtheria, tetanus, polio and whooping cough.
Before the vaccine is introduced there will be a major publicity campaign aimed at professionals in the NHS and at parents. We hope that Hib will be at least as well accepted as the other vaccines in the childhood immunisation programme, and achieve at least 90 per cent. uptake by the first birthday. This level of acceptance would mean that about 600,000 infants per year would be immunised in England.