The Meningitis C National Immunisation Programme - Ireland

To ensure maximum uptake, the immunisation programme was supported by extensive public awareness activity. This included radio & press advertising, telephone helplines at all Health Boards to answer questions from the public & literature for parents and young people, which was distributed nationwide via schools, health centres & GP practices. Parents of babies attending their family doctor for immunisation at 2,4,6 and 15 months are offered the Meningitis C vaccine. Phase one saw that parents of all other children under 5 years received an information leaflet, together with an invitation to contact their family doctor for an appointment. Each Health Board advised parents by letter about the health arrangements in their area. Any of the families with high risk members which have not yet been immunised are contacted immediately by letter, their GP or student health service.

Those age groups considered most at risk of contracting Group C meningitis (babies & children 0 - 4 years & youth aged 15 - 18 years) were immunised in the first phase, in October 2000, followed by the other age groups in the next 2 phases starting in 2001. Group C Meningitis & septicaemia cause approximately 1/3 of the total cases of bacterial meningitis in Ireland. Ireland has one of the highest rates of Meningococcal Group C infection in the developed world and the infection claimed 11 lives out of the 165 confirmed cases reported in Ireland between July 1999 and June 2000. The vaccine will provide long term protection against Group C meningitis but not against Group B meningitis & spepticaemia. Pamphlets providing information on the importance of vaccinating also explain the symptoms of meningitis, so parents can be aware, even if their child has been immunised. The Group C Meningitis Immunisation programme will involve General Practitioners, Health Board Vaccination Teams, Student Heath Services, and medical services in various public sectors such as the Army, Navy, Garda and Prison services.