February 8, 2006

scientists react to Government announcement on pneumococcal vaccine

Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson announced the addition of a vaccine protecting against a disease that causes blood poisoning, meningitis and pneumonia to the UK child immunisation programme.

Professor Adam Finn, Professor of Paediatrics, University of Bristol Medical School, said:

“The government is to introduce a pneumococcal vaccine to immunise very young children. This vaccine has been through extensive safety tests and has been used without any problems for 5 years in US. This vaccine will also protect against pneumonia and ear infections, that while less serious, are much more common in young children.”

Dr Helen Bedford, Lecturer in Children’s Health, UCL Institute of Child Health, said:

“The addition of a vaccine against pneumococcal infection into the routine immunisation programme in the UK is a very welcome development. The vaccine will save children’s lives as well as prevent serious disability from this infection which causes the most serious form of meningitis as well as blood poisoning and pneumonia.”