Timetable For British Babies To Get Meningitis Jab

All babies in England and Scotland are to be offered meningitis vaccinations from September, it has been announced.

It will be the first national immunisation programme against the meningitis B strain of the illness in the world.

Meningitis is an infection and inflammation of the lining of the brain and mainly affects young children and teenagers.

Speaking about meningitis B, Professor John Watson, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, told Sky News: "This really is a devastating disease, it can kill up to one in 10 of the people who get the disease, and leave others with severe disabilities, loss of limbs and so it's really important."

Sky News met four-year-old Tommy Brown who had both his legs and most of his hands amputated after contracting the illness at just five months old.

Doctors did not expect him to survive.

Since then his mother has been campaigning for a vaccine to be made available on the NHS.

Julie Tuckley told Sky News: "It's ruined his life, from a mother's point of view, completely... Every single day is a challenge for Tommy, even just going to school, trying to potty train, going up the stairs.

"But he doesn't give in, he'll try anything."

The Bexsero MenB vaccine, which was recommended by health experts a year ago, is being added to the national childhood immunisation scheme, with babies getting the first of three jabs at two months from September.

Ministers in the devolved governments of Wales and Northern Ireland said at the time they were also taking steps to have the meningitis B vaccination introduced.

From August, teenagers aged 17 and 18 years old will also be offered a combined dose to protect against the meningitis A, C, W and Y strains.