With Meningitis Awareness Day on 24th April, a new vaccine will be very welcome news.
Meningitis Research Foundation welcomed the news of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
receiving European Commission approval for its new pneumococcal conjugate
vaccine, Synflorix, to protect against 10 strains of pneumococcal disease
in the UK. Any advances in the protection offered to children against
this deadly disease are very important.
Currently, there is a vaccine in use that successfully protects against
the top seven major strains of the pneumococcal bacteria covering 70-80%
of severe pneumococcal disease in young children. GSK’s new paediatric
pneumococcal candidate vaccine Synflorix ™ will tackle 10 strains of pneumococcal
disease, covering additional three strains 1, 5 and 7F.
Meningitis Research Foundation’s Chief Executive, Christopher Head, commented,
“Pneumococcal meningitis is one of the most deadly forms of meningitis.
The Foundation welcomes more broadly protective vaccines against this
dreadful disease and Synflorix represents a positive step forward.
Nonetheless, there are limits to the potential coverage conjugate pneumococcal
vaccines can provide. They are a temporary solution to a disease with
over 90 known strains, and further research is needed to ensure greater
coverage.”
MRF would like to see further research to develop a vaccine that can
prevent all types of pneumococcal meningitis. The Foundation continues
to fund research to discover
pneumococcal vaccine components which could provide universal protection
and recognises there are other valuable and significant efforts towards
this goal taking place around the world.
About Meningitis Research Foundation
- Currently funds 22 research projects. Since it was founded in 1989,
the charity has awarded 122 research grants, leading to many advances
in the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia.
The total value of the Foundation’s investment in vital scientific research
is over £14.8 million. - Meningitis Research Foundation operates a Freefone 24 hour helpline
- 080 8800 3344 – providing information on meningitis and septicaemia
to the general public and health professionals. - Information on meningitis and septicaemia is also available on the
Foundation’s world-renowned website – www.meningitis.org
- in 22 languages. An interpretation service in 150 languages is available
through the 24 hour helpline. - Spot Meningitis Symptoms – life saving information available by text
in the UK, simply text MRF to 82088. This text will be a standard rate
text. MRF will not charge for the video but data charges from your operator
will apply.
Symptoms of meningitis:
Fever; vomiting; severe headache; rash (not present in all cases); stiff
neck*; dislike of bright lights*; very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake;
confused/delirious; seizures (fits) may also be seen. (*Unusual in young
children.)
Symptoms of septicaemia (blood poisoning form of the disease):
Fever; vomiting; limb/joint/muscle pain (sometimes stomach pain/diarrhoea);
pale or mottled skin; cold hands and feet; shivering; breathing fast/breathless;
rash (anywhere on the body); very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake; confused/delirious.
Other symptoms in babies include:
tense or bulging fontanelle (soft spot); refusing to feed; being irritable
when picked up with a high pitched or moaning cry; a stiff body with jerky
movements or else floppy and lifeless.
Date
8th April 2009
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