New Meningitis B vaccine approved for UK use

Meningitis B is one of the deadliest and most common strains of the disease. Credit: Meningitis UK

A new vaccine against Meningitis B has been approved for use in the UK.

The vaccine, developed by pharmaceutical giant Novartis received its licence from the European Commission today.

ITV News Science and Medical Editor Lawrence McGinty reports:

Meningitis UK is urging the Government to make the vaccine part of the NHS childhood immunisation schedule, so that it "will save as many lives as possible".

  • Meningitis B is the most common form of the disease in the UK, affecting 1,870 people each year, many of them children

  • One in 10 people who contract the disease will die

  • One in four will be left with life-changing after effects, such as brain damage or limb loss

Read: How to spot the symptoms of Meningitis

Professor Simon Kroll, a Paediatric and Meningitis specialist, described the next stage is a "discussion between the Department of Health and the manufacturers."

He added: "Ultimately it's up to Government to decide how the vaccine is introduced in to the schedule - but we haven't got to that point yet."