New UK government vision highlights the importance of preventing illness through vaccines

Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) welcomes the UK government’s new 'Prevention is better than cure' vision which highlights the important role vaccines play in preventing ill health and saving lives.

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s vision, published on Monday 5 November, puts preventing illness at the heart of the NHS long-term plan.

The document acknowledges the crucial role that vaccines have played in drastically reducing many infectious diseases in the UK, and suggests:

“Maintaining and evolving our world-renowned vaccination programme, by further increasing the uptake of currently used vaccines and incorporating new ones, which will positively impact on public health and the NHS.”

Vinny Smith, Chief Executive at MRF said, “We welcome the government’s move towards prioritising prevention of disease and ill health. Vaccination is the only way to prevent deadly meningitis and septicaemia – diseases that can strike without warning. Ensuring that people remain free of serious illness is far better than relying on treatment if they become ill.

“There are a number of successful meningitis vaccination programmes already in place but more can be done to defeat the disease. We will be paying close attention to the Health Secretary’s promises and look forward to hearing how and when positive changes will be implemented.”

The prioritisation of vaccines was also confirmed in a letter to MRF from Alistair Burt, the Minister of State for the Department for International Development (DFID), in October, which outlines DFID’s commitment to funding vaccines globally.

Find out more about MRF’s work that promotes prevention of meningitis and septicaemia