Pneumococcal vaccine date named

A new vaccine against pneumococcal meningitis will be offered to every child under two in the UK from the autumn, the Department of Health has announced. From 4 September every child starting their routine immunisations at two months of age can receive a jab against pneumococcal disease, which can cause meningitis, pneumonia and septicaemia (see Nursery World, 6 July, Child Health, p22). The DoH will also run a catch-up campaign to ensure that every child aged up to two is offered the vaccination from September until early next year.