MILLIONS more young adults are to be offered vaccination against meningitis C, the Government announced last night.
Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said the vaccine, which has already cut the number of cases in under-20s, was to be made available to all those under 25.
The campaign was being extended after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advised that the risk of meningococcal infection was twice as high among 20 to 24-year-olds as in the rest of the adult population.
The Department of Health said the vaccine has already cut the incidence of meningitis by 90 per cent since its introduction in 1999.
Dr Deb Wilson, consultant in communicable disease control with County Durham and Darlington Health Authority, said: "It is good to see this very effective vaccine being extended to 20-24 year olds who are the next highest risk age group. GPs will soon be contacting patients and arranging for them to be immunised."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article