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April 5, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Meningitis C Vaccine 'Rapidly Reduced Outbreaks'"

Press Association (UK) (www.pressassociation.press.net) (04/05/02); Westcott, Sarah

A new study in the British Medical Journal indicates that the introduction of the meningitis C vaccine was extremely cost effective and led to a marked reduction in outbreaks of the disease in the United Kingdom.  Three years ago, the U.K. Department of Health added the vaccine to the routine infant immunizations it provides, and it launched a campaign offering the meningitis C vaccine to everyone in the country under the age of 18.  Before the introduction of the meningitis C vaccine, there were approximately 1,137 cases of meningitis C among young people every year, resulting in at least 72 deaths.  The study, which was conducted by researchers at the London-based Public Health Laboratory Service, found that the vaccination campaign has so far prevented about 7,880 cases of the disease and saved the lives of 845 people.  Altogether, the researchers estimated that the cost of the vaccination campaign--the first of its kind in the world--came to about 6,259 British pounds per life saved, which they felt was extremely cost effective.  The British government launched the vaccination campaign three years ago after a number of outbreaks of the disease occurred at British universities and schools.

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