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Decrease in carriage of Group C as a result of the Men C vaccine
10 May 2002
Meningitis Research Foundation welcomed results published in the 25 May 2002 edition of the Lancet from Martin C J Maiden and James M Stuart for The UK Meningococcal Carriage Group. The article showed that in a sampled population of 15-17 year olds there had been a 66% reduction in carriage of the Group C meningococcal bacteria following the introduction of a programme in November 1999 to immunise all under 18s against Group C meningitis and septicaemia.
The reduction in carriage of the bacteria is good news, because it means the chances of getting Group C meningococcal disease are reduced, even for those who have not been vaccinated and babies who have not completed their course of injections as part of the childhood immunisation programme.
The study also showed that there were no significant changes in carriage of other forms of meningococci . This reinforces the message that although the Men C vaccination campaign has been a resounding success, other forms of the disease are at least as prevalent as they always were. This highlights the importance of continued vigilance against Group B and other forms of the disease which are still not preventable by vaccines.
Meningitis Research Foundation's Chief Executive, Denise Vaughan, commented: "Meningitis Research Foundation is delighted with this latest evidence of the tremendous success of the Men C vaccination programme. By reducing circulation of the bacteria that cause Group C meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, the risks of contracting these devastating diseases are likely to drop, even for people who have not been immunised. But the study reminds us that other forms of meningitis and septicaemia are at least as prevalent as ever, and we must focus on further research to rid us of these diseases."