Vaccines

Since vaccinations against meningitis were introduced the amount of cases occuring every year have significantly fallen.

There are different types of vaccinations for some types of Bacterial Meningitis, but there has been no vaccination found for Meningitis B (which is the cause of most cases of meningococcal infections each year).

The MenC vaccination has led to a 95% reduction in cases of the meningococcal group C disease.

The HIB (Haemophilus Influenza type B) vaccination has lead to cases of HIB now being extremely rare with only 50 a year occuring in the UK compared to previously around 800 cases a year occuring.

PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination) gives protection against 7 types of pneumococcoal bacteria and is usually injected into the arm muscle.

PPV (Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine) is given to those at risk from pneumococcal disease, for example those with asthma, chronic heart disease, diabetes mellitus or with cochlear implants.   It provides protection against 23 strains of pneumococcal bacteria but only gives limited protection as it only lasts for a few years.   This vaccine is ineffective in babies under 2.

The MMR vaccine has been useful in preventing Meningitis as it prevents Mumps, which is a disease that can lead to Meningitis.

 Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Injection_Syringe_01.jpg under the terms of the GNU-Free Documentation License.