New children’s vaccine for pneumococcal meningitis receives recommendation for approval

28 September 2009

Meningitis Research Foundation welcomes the European Medicines Agency’s positive decision to recommend approval for Wyeth’s new 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine for children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age.

Currently, there is a vaccine in use that successfully protects against the top seven strains of pneumococcal bacteria covering 70-80% of severe pneumococcal disease in young children in the UK. This new vaccine will protect against a further six strains of pneumococcal bacteria, which are responsible for deadly pneumococcal meningitis, as well as pneumonia and severe ear infections.

Meningitis Research Foundation Chief Executive Christopher Head commented, ”Pneumococcal meningitis is one of the most deadly forms of meningitis and causes devastation across the UK and around the world. This new vaccine offers greater coverage for all children in the UK against some of the main strains of pneumococcal meningitis. We would like to see its integration into the childhood immunisation schedule as soon as it is licensed so that the available protection can be offered to our children.”

Media Contact: Harpinder Collacott 01454 281811 or 07711 057875

Notes to Editor:

• Meningitis Research Foundation is currently funding 24 research projects into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia. The Foundation has spent £15.6 million on research since its inception in 1989 on 128 research projects.
• Meningitis Research Foundation operates a Freefone 24 hour helpline – 080 8800 3344 - providing information on meningitis and septicaemia to the general public and health professionals.

Symptoms of meningitis:
Fever; vomiting; severe headache; rash (not present in all cases); stiff neck*; dislike of bright lights*; very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake; confused/delirious; seizures (fits) may also be seen. (*Unusual in young children.)

Symptoms of septicaemia (blood poisoning form of the disease):
Fever; vomiting; limb/joint/muscle pain (sometimes stomach pain/diarrhoea); pale or mottled skin; cold hands and feet; shivering; breathing fast/breathless; rash (anywhere on the body); very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake; confused/delirious.
 
Other symptoms in babies include: tense or bulging fontanelle (soft spot); refusing to feed; being irritable when picked up with a high pitched or moaning cry; a stiff body with jerky movements or else floppy and lifeless.