Men-B Vaccine to Become Routine

The meningitis B vaccine will become routine in Scotland from September 1st.

All infants aged 2 months'll be eligible - they will be given 3 doses, at 2, 4 and 12 months. Additionally, in response to an increase in the number of cases of meningitis W, and based on advice from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation, a MenACWY vaccine will be introduced to replace the MenC vaccine. That will be available to adolescents and university freshers under 25 from August.

Around 12-hundred people get meningitis B in the UK every year, with one in 10 dying form the infection.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said:

"These two new vaccination programmes will offer families in Scotland extra peace of mind. We’re delighted to be one of the first countries in the world to introduce a nationwide MenB vaccination programme to help tackle the effects of this disease, which can be devastating for children and their families. The Scottish Government has been consistent in its support for the introduction of this vaccine and today’s announcement underlines our commitment to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our children."