§ Lord HolmPatrickasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that there is adequate progress being made in the new meningococcal A & C vaccine; and when it will be introduced into the general immunisation programme.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonFollowing preliminary work commissioned by the Department of Health in 1995, on 3 November this year the department announced an extension of work to evaluate meningococcal and pneumococcal vaccines in United Kingdom children. The study is being funded by the department at a total cost of over £1 million and is being carried out by the Public Health Laboratory Service in collaboration with the National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls, the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research and the Institute for Child Health. Good progress is being made and these studies have shown very encouraging results already for Group C. Early indicators for Group B are also encouraging. There are reasonable prospects that these vaccines will eventually be able to induce long term immunity although more research is needed before their suitability for widespread use can be considered. The work in progress on accelerated development of conjugate vaccines puts the UK in a world leading position.
Group A vaccine is recommended for those travelling to areas where this strain is prevalent; it is very rare in this country.
The Department of Health looks to its independent expert committee, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), to advise on the appropriate method and timing of the introduction of new vaccines. The results of the studies set out above will allow JCVI to make an assessment of the efficacy and safety of new meningococcal vaccines and their potential place in the UK immunisation programme.
§ Lord HolmPatrickasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of the recent increase in cases of meningococcal meningitis type C amongst the student population of United Kingdom colleges and universities, they will consider making available now the meningococcal A & C vaccine to all first year students and those living in halls of residence, and
Whether, in the light of the recent increase in cases of meningococcal meningitis type C amongst the student population of United Kingdom colleges and universities, they will consider making standard practice for all first year students to receive meningococcal A & C vaccine in the first two weeks of the Autumn term.
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§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe current policy on the use of meningococcal C vaccine is based on the recommendations of independent experts, including the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. These experts have considered the possible more widespread use of the existing meningococcal vaccine, but concluded that the vaccine had problems (set out as follows) which made such use unsuitable.
The presently available Group C vaccine only offers about 80 per cent. protection for those in older age groups, this immunity is relatively short lived and the vaccine offers no protection at all against the most common strain of meningococcal disease. Group B.
There is some preliminary evidence that those who receive the existing Group C vaccine may develop immune tolerance for further exposure, a risk as yet unresolved. Someone who has had the existing vaccine may not have a very good level of immunity when given the new, more effective vaccine under development, or potentially when exposed to the meningococcal organism.
The vital message is to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease and to be alert. These remain the best general protection. The Health Education Authority's "Look out for your mate" campaign, together with the information provided by the Meningitis Research Foundation and the National Meningitis Trust, seeks to ensure students are aware and alert.
It should also be remembered that rates of meningococcal infection are highest in under fives. If the existing vaccine were suitable for more widespread use these and other age groups would also have to be considered.