Children under two are at the highest risk and out of 530 cases a year, 50 children die in England and Wales. The immunisation will be given at two, four and thirteen months.

Denise Vaughan, Chief Executive, Meningitis Research Foundation said:
Meningitis Research Foundation is delighted to see a pneumococcal meningitis vaccine in the childhood immunisation schedule. As a direct result, we know that many young lives will be saved every year and many youngsters will be spared the devastating after effects of pneumococcal meningitis. However, not all forms of meningitis are vaccine preventable, so the public still need to be aware of their symptoms.”

Philip Kirby, Chief Executive of the Meningitis Trust said:
"Vaccination is the only way to prevent meningitis and we welcome these changes as it will help save lives. Pneumococcal meningitis is a devastating disease - 20% of those who get it will die and a further 25% will suffer severe after-effects. This vaccine will help save lives and will significantly reduce the burden of the disease."

All childhood immunisations for children registered at Stalbridge Surgery are performed at the surgery. We run an immunisation clinic every Wednesday afternoon. The appointments for immunisation are routinely sent out by the Child Immunisation Department based in Dorchester. Should you have any questions please contact the surgery

There is a comprehensive NHS immunisation web site at www.immunisation.org.uk

• Immunisation Schedule from 2006
• Stalbridge Surgery letter to patients (PDF file 53Kb)
• Why should I immunise my child?