Babies to get fourth booster jab promptly

Health officials have confirmed a fourth meningococcal B vaccination jab for babies.

The booster shot is being introduced immediately, with about 9000 babies due for their fourth jab by next Friday.

All infants who received the first dose before six months will get the booster shot, after the medicines regulator MedSafe granted approval for it to be administered to babies, the age group at greatest risk from the group-B meningococcal epidemic.

Officials discussed its introduction late last year after two babies contracted the epidemic strain.

One was fully immunised and the other became ill before the third dose took effect.

Neither was admitted to intensive care and both were discharged from hospital after short stays.

The booster shot will be given to babies when they are at least 10 months old, and a minimum of four months after their third dose.

Infants already receive nine shots for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus bacteria, hepatitis B and meningococcal B.

The fourth meningococcal B dose will bring the tally of immunisation jabs to 10 in as many months.

But about 3500 babies will receive their fourth dose early. The two babies who contracted the disease had received three doses before they were 21 weeks old, and the Health Ministry is recommending the booster shot early as a precautionary measure.

National immunisation programme director Dr Jane O'Hallahan said the fourth dose ensured babies were optimally protected before winter, when the disease is most prevalent.

Clinical trials showed infants had a lesser response to the vaccine than older children, she said. "It is extremely important for parents to be aware that meningococcal disease is a risk for their child and that immunisation provides the best protection available."

An estimated 20,000 more babies will be due for a fourth dose by June 30, when the mass immunisation campaign ends. The vaccine, however, will still be available for under-20s until the end of the year.

Dr O'Hallahan expected the vaccine to continue to be available for children under 5 until the epidemic is controlled.

There are no plans to introduce a fourth dose for older age groups.

She said medical staff back the campaign.

"The whole campaign has been really challenging for practice nurses to schedule so many vaccinations into their already busy day. However, they managed it - and managed it well."

Dr Peter Foley, the Medical Association's GP council chairman, does not foresee any logistical problems in administering the booster shot, as the flu jab season does not start until late March.

"At the practice level, it's probably manageable - bearing in mind our nurses have worked very hard over the last six to 12 months on this programme.

"Obviously the immunisation benefit we receive for this won't compensate for the extra work both in recalling the children and explaining to their parents why they need it, but it's something the general practice will have to do for the benefit of the overall programme.

"It'd be nice that the Government acknowledge all the work we're doing but that's unlikely to happen."


The numbers

In the mass-immunisation programme to date:
* 76 per cent of all under-20s have received the full three doses.
* 68 per cent of under-5s.
* 83 per cent of children between 5 and 17.
* 43 per cent of 18- and 19-year-olds.
* Nearly 2.9 million doses have been administered.