§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is being undertaken on vaccination strategy and its possible impact on meningitis. [117549]
§ Ms BlearsClinical trials are currently being carried out to examine the suitability of including pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the childhood immunisation programme. Research is also being undertaken to decide whether a routine Hib booster will be needed in future.
Following the success of the Meningitis C campaign, Meningococcal B vaccines are in development and will be considered for inclusion in the childhood programme as soon as they become available.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on links between HiB vaccines and strains of meningitis. [117600]
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§ Ms BlearsHib vaccine prevents infection from Haemophilus influenzae type B (HiB) disease. Wherever the vaccine has been introduced, there has been no evidence of any effect on non-type B Haemophilus strains, nor has it been thought that there was any effect on other infections causing meningitis.