Health: Meningitis B Vaccine

Earl of Listowel Excerpts

Monday 24th February 2014 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

Our childhood immunisation programme generally bears comparison with any country in the world and is very extensive and very successful. However, the incidence and prevalence of meningitis B is higher than in many other countries, which is why there is such concern about it.

[The Earl of Listowel (CB)]

My Lords, will the Minister assure the House that, if this vaccine is accepted, the infrastructure will be in place to enable it to be administered swiftly to as many children as possible? Are health professionals trained and ready to administer the vaccine, if it is decided to accept it?

[Earl Howe]

The main practical constraint is manufacturing the vaccine. However, I assure the noble Earl that the NHS is well equipped to deliver the vaccine once it has it in its possession.