Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on vaccinations against meningitis; and if he will make a statement.

Decisions on the introduction of vaccinations into the United Kingdom immunisation programme are based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an expert panel that advises the Government on all immunisation matters.

Meningitis can be caused by a range of viruses and bacteria, and can be prevented by a number of vaccinations that are part of the UK programme, including three meningococcal vaccination programmes:

- meningococcal group B offered to babies;

- meningococcal group C offered to babies as part of a combination vaccination that also protects against Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib); and

- meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y offered to adolescents in school and some school leavers/university entrants.

Other vaccination programmes that have reduced common causes of meningitis include those using:

- the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine;

- the Hib vaccine; and

- the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

The JCVI keeps all vaccination programmes under review and considers new evidence when it becomes available.