A major new programme of vaccinations is to be established in England, it was announced yesterday.
The government has seized a sea-change in public mood to introduce new vaccination campaigns for shingles, the rotavirus and flu.
The announcement came as a deadly outbreak of measles in Wales and England was linked to the false scare about the MMR vaccine.
It led to further problems when new flu vaccines were introduced following the swine flu outbreak – and the government sought to vaccinate pregnant women and NHS staff.
Under the new programme children aged two will be offered a nasal flu vaccine. The programme will then be extended to all children of primary school age.
Pensioners in their 70s will be offered the shingles vaccine.
And from July infants under the age of four months will get the rotavirus vaccine.
Professor David Salisbury, NHS director of immunisation, said: "By offering new vaccines to two groups at the opposite end of the age scale, we can protect our most vulnerable against potentially harmful diseases. And the introduction of a teenage booster for Meningitis C will improve the protection given to young people."
Dr Mary Ramsay, of Public Health England, said: "The introduction of the oral Rotavirus vaccine in the US and parts of Europe has had a major impact on preventing young children from developing this unpleasant vomiting and diarrhoeal disease. The vaccine is very easy to administer and involves placing a droplet of liquid into the babies’ mouths.
"In the countries where the vaccine has already been introduced, the uptake has been high and has resulted in rapid and sustained reductions in childhood rotavirus hospitalisations. We are excited to be offering this vaccine as part of the national infant immunisation programme in the UK.
"As well as the rotavirus vaccine for infants, the upcoming introduction of childhood influenza and adolescent MenC immunisation programmes along with routine vaccination against shingles for older adults will all continue to contribute to our highly successful vaccination programme which we can boast in the UK."
Leave a Reply