Scientists from Chile have found evidence that a potential new vaccine can protect against meningitis B.
In the UK, the current childhood vaccination programme includes a jab which protects against meningitis, but it doesn’t protect against all forms of the disease. A vaccine for meningitis B has been difficult to come by and it is estimated that the disease infects around 2,000 people every year. It mainly affects children under the age of 5 and there are around 100 deaths in the UK from the disease annually.
Kate Rowland from Meningitis UK pointed out that the UK has one of the highest incidences of meningitis B in the world. She added: “Scientists have been trying to develop a vaccine against it for years but it has been very challenging as its capsule is similar to the structure of human nerve cells and the bacteria is clever, mutating and adapting.”
Meningitis B also accounts for 60% of bacterial meningitis infections in Chile. Scientists from the University of Chile have tried a new vaccine, called 4CMenB, in a number of 11 to 17 year olds.
They indicated that two doses of the vaccine can give 100% protection from the disease.
The researchers are now suggesting that the vaccine be considered for use in countries where incidences of meningitis B are very common.
A spokesperson from the University of Southampton indicated that previous studies have shown the vaccine to provide protection in infants. However, they indicate that it is still not known how long the protection lasts, or how many strains it protects against.
Related posts:
