Major campaign to reduce the risk of meningitis

As part of a drive to inform the public about the new meningitis C vaccination programme, a public information campaign is being launched today by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland.

More than one million leaflets entitled Meningitis: Reduce the risk for children and young people have been produced to ensure the general public has adequate information about the vaccine and the vaccination programme.

As well as the information leaflet, a television and radio advertising campaign will be broadcast highlighting how important it is that everyone comes when they are called for the vaccine. Materials have also been produced for a range of professionals who will be working to ensure the campaign is successfully implemented.

Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency said: "It is important that people wait until they are called for the meningitis C vaccine so that an immunisation programme of this size runs as smoothly as possible. A timetable has been scheduled so that those at greatest risk can be immunised first. Everyone under the age of 18 years will be invited to get the vaccine at their school or at their GP surgery over the next twelve months.

"The information leaflet which the Agency has produced as part of the public information campaign should answer many of the questions the public may have about the vaccination programme. We have produced a lot of leaflets because it is important that everyone who should have information has access to a copy.

"The leaflet includes information about the vaccine, who will be given it and when. Information on the signs of meningitis and septicaemia, or blood poisoning, is also included in the leaflet as the new vaccine only protects against one strain of meningitis - meningococcal C infection."

School children will be given a copy of the information leaflet to bring home from school and it will also be inserted into a number of newspapers. Copies of the leaflet can also be obtained from GP surgeries, health centres and pharmacies.

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