Meningitis vaccine for teenagers given the go-ahead

Health Minister Andrew Green and Health chief executive Julie Garbutt have given the go ahead for the vaccination programme following the ‘accelerating increase’ of cases of meningococcal W across the Channel.

It comes after the Department of Health in the UK announced that it was offering vaccines to three million teenagers to prevent the transmission of the subtype of the disease after the number of cases increased five-fold over a five-year period.

Health Department chief executive Julie Garbutt

Immunisation will be offered to around 5,000 Island teenagers aged between 14 and 18. Details about how, where or when the vaccine will be offered is expected to be released by the Health Department next month.

Today a Health spokesman said: ‘A vaccine offering protection against the meningococcal W strain is to be offered to adolescents in Jersey after a vaccination programme was approved this week by the Health and Social Services Department.

‘Details of the vaccination programme will be finalised in the coming weeks, with the first doses of the MenACWY vaccine expected to be administered later in the year.’

There are six different kinds of meningococcal infection which lead to meningitis, known as A, B, C, W, X and Y.

Meningococcal W was rare but a new aggressive strain has emerged, particularly among young people, with 117 cases in the UK last year compared to 22 in 2009. There have also been 24 deaths in the last two years compared to around four annually until 2012.

In Jersey, there were 12 cases of meningococcal disease between 2000 and 2012, most of which were meningococcal B. There have been no cases of meningococcal W.

The Health Department has previously said that it was unable to state the cost of any such vaccination programme, as it was ‘commercially sensitive’ information.

Meningococcal disease mostly affects young babies and children – in such cases the symptoms may include:

  • a high fever, with cold hands and feet
  • vomit and refusal to feed
  • feeling agitated and not want to be picked up
  • becoming drowsy, floppy and unresponsive
  • grunt or breathe rapidly
  • an unusual high-pitched or moaning cry
  • pale, blotchy skin, and a red rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it
  • a tense, bulging soft spot on their head (fontanelle)
  • a stiff neck and dislike bright lights
  • convulsions or seizures

Meningococcal disease can also affect older children, teenagers and adults; in these cases the symptoms may include:

  • a fever, with cold hands and feet
  • vomiting
  • drowsiness and difficulty waking up
  • confusion and irritability
  • severe muscle pain
  • pale, blotchy skin, and a distinctive rash (although not everyone will have this)
  • a severe headache
  • stiff neck
  • sensitivity to light (photophobia)
  • convulsion or seizures

  • If a clear glass is pressed firmly against the skin and the rash doesn’t fade, it’s a sign of meningococcal septicaemia.
  • A person with septicaemia may have a rash of tiny ‘pin pricks’ that later develops into purple bruising.
  • Suspected cases of meningococcal disease, even in the absence of a non-fading rash, are a medical emergency, and immediate medical help should be sought to ensure very early diagnosis and urgent treatment.
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