England is to become the first country in the world to offer the meningitis vaccine to all babies born in its hospitals.
The inoculation, which guards against meningitis and septicaemia caused by the meningococcal B (MenB) bacteria, will be rolled out nationwide in September after the UK government reached a deal with GlaxoSmithKline.
The jab will be given at two months and four months-old, with a booster 12 months later.
Meningitis is a serious inflammation of the lining around the spinal cord and the brain, caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
UK teenagers, who have a higher risk of contracting meningitis because of close contact with friends and classmates, will also benefit, with a MenACWY vaccine to be made available to all 17 and 18-year-olds from August this year. Students between the ages of 19 and 25 will also be offered the vaccine.
Ireland has the highest rate of meningitis B in the EU, with more than 100 people affected annually. While the vaccine Bexsero is available here privately from GPs at a cost of €300, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee has recommended a national immunisation programme should be introduced.
Click here to download a PDF of the signs and symptoms of meningitis.
