Press Release

7^th January 2002

"Knock Out Killer Bug with One Jab," McNeil Urges Inverclyde's Young Adults
MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, is urging local young people to guard against Meningitis C by taking advantage of the extension of the Executive's vaccination programme.

From today, all young people under 25 will be entitled to the Meningitis C vaccine. The £2.45 million move is being made following a recommendation by the UK-Wide Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that the vaccine, currently available to everyone under 18, should be extended to all those aged 24 and under.

Speaking after the announcement, Mr McNeil said:

"Young people between the ages of 20 and 24 are almost three times as likely to become infected with Meningitis C than those aged between 25 and 30.

"Although it is a killer disease, it can be knocked out with a single jab - as the huge success of the vaccination programme shows.

"Since the introduction of the vaccination programme for young people under the age of 18 in 1999, the number of cases of Meningitis C in the under 20s has fallen by 80%.

"Over the same period, the number of deaths from Meningitis C in this age group - including those immunised since 1999 who are now aged between 18 and 20 - has fallen from eight to one.

"Following this success, I am glad that the vaccination programme is now being extended to the under 25s and I would urge all young people in Greenock and Inverclyde to take advantage of the scheme.

"I know you lead very busy lives, but taking time out to be vaccinated against this very serious and potentially fatal disease could be the most important move you make this year.

"Information packs outlining how to get the jab will be available from places such as your GP, pharmacy, job centre, college, or university."
ENDS

Notes

• Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is caused by several different organisms including viruses and bacteria. Bacterial meningitis is a very serious, but quite rare, disease. In the UK there are two main strains of meningococcal infection - identified as B and C.
• Over the last five years there has been an average of around 100 to 160 cases of Group C meningococcal disease in Scotland resulting in around 5 to 10 deaths each year.
• In November 1999, a mass immunisation campaign commenced to immunise all UK children and young people under the age of 18 years with Meningitis C Conjugate vaccines. (There is no vaccine yet against type B meningitis). The UK was the first country in the world to introduce this vaccine.
• In the 20 to 24 year-old age group, there were 36 cases of Group C infection, of whom five died in the period 1997-2001.
• The Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS) is producing an information leaflet entitled "Aged 20-24? Get immunised with Men C" and an accompanying poster. Throughout January sample packs will be distributed to GP surgeries, immunisation co-ordinators, pharmacies, job centres, colleges, universities, armed forces recruitment centres and Health Promotion Departments.

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