Meningitis vaccine is still on the shelf
Government has been considering decision for three years
A vaccine against the bacteria that causes meningitis and pneumonia in children has still not made it on to the list of free vaccines, even though the government has been “considering” it for the past three years.
In May 2009, the government’s advisory board on immunisation recommended the vaccine against the pneumococcal bacteria should be made available for free on the national health service.
Back then the government said it was considering introducing the innoculation.
But, three years on, The Times asked whether plans still held and the Parliamentary Secretariat responsible replied: “At the moment it’s not included. Nevertheless, from time to time, new vaccines and free medicines are introduced. The list of free medicines was updated last March.”
The pneumococcal bacteria lives in people’s throats and normally causes very few problems.
But people with weak immune systems, including the young and the old, can face problems.
The vaccine protects against the bacteria that is a common cause of pneumonia, middle ear infections, meningitis and blood infections.
The pneumococcal vaccine was discussed during a conference for paediatricians held last month.
Canadian immunologist Lorna York, who works for Pfizer – one of the companies that produces the vaccine – stressed that a national immunisation programme to vaccinate children against the pneumococcal bacteria would benefit the whole Maltese community.
Across the globe, more than 800,000 children under five die as a result of contracting the bacteria each year.
In 2007 the vaccine was recommended by the World Health Organisation and since then more than 50 countries introduced national immunisation programmes.
Dr York said these countries had witnessed impressive reductions in potentially killer diseases since the vaccine carried direct and indirect benefits for society.
By vaccinating children, who are the main carriers, there was a lower risk of the bacteria being transmitted from one person to another.
As a result all vulnerable children and people, such as the elderly, benefited even if not vaccinated themselves.
“You can protect childrenindividually, which is really important… but with a national programme everybody gets that benefit,” she said.
There are two main vaccines against the bacteria – the Prenevar vaccine offered by Pfizer and another by GlaxoSmithKline.
Dr York said Pfizer recently launched Prevenar 13, an improved version of the original drug. This week the Health Ministry announced a programme to vaccinate all 12-year-old girls against the HPV virus that can lead to cervical cancer.
During an event to mark European Immunisation Week, Parliamentary Secretary for Community Care Mario Galea said 35,000 children were vaccinated in health centres in 2011.
A further 15,000 students were vaccinated at school.
During the seasonal influenza vaccination campaign held over last winter, at total of 77,000 people had injections.
He said Malta had three immunisation clinics and the vaccines offered for free on a national scale included Polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), Hib, Hepatitis B, Pertussis and BCG (which protects against tuberculosis).
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18 Comments
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Sharon Scicluna
May 12th 2012, 20:46
Please note that the Government is seriously considering this vaccine. My son who was born in 2011 and was one of the newborns born in 2011 chosen to be innoculated against this bacteria.... as a trial between Mater Dei hospital and Oxford university. The study is still being conducted and is ongoing and these babies are also given blood tests to see if there are any reactions before the government can implement and introduce this vaccine on a national scale.
J. Debono
May 12th 2012, 19:54
It is a pneumococcal vaccine, not meningitis vaccine. Pneumococcus is a very rare cause of meningitis.
j brincat
May 12th 2012, 13:33
No problem it will SOON be one of the free vaccine!
Remember that the election is round the corner so Santa has started dishing out gifts very very early!
(jb)
James Tyrrell
May 12th 2012, 13:32
I have no doubt this is just something else that is being held back by the Government so that they can announce it in the run up to the election to make it look as if they give a damn. Doing these things at the right time with regard to their image is more important that the health of children.
Rachel Roberts
May 12th 2012, 12:45
n said...I dont think that 'its not free' is the real issue, its the point in fact that people in general are simply not AWARE of the vaccines, because they are not on the current vaccination schedule. I am from the UK where it is compulsary and offered as part of the vaccination programme. I am saddened that it is not offered here: however, I am aware of it, and I will be paying privately for my baby to have these vaccines. God forbid something happened to my child, and it could have been prevented by a vaccine because it simply was not offered for free / advertised. These vaccines should be advertised to increase awareness of them, actually, they are NOT that expensive and maybe then parents would innoculate their children.
Rita Zammit
May 12th 2012, 13:05
It is 200 Euros dear, and a family on minium wage with 2 kids, cannot afford 400 Euros. What about those families li due to a health circumstance, they cannot work or are on social benefits?? What about the single mothers? What about the sick fathers and those that have sickness in their families? What about those families who are constantly paying for treatment becuase one of their kids is disabled?? Please don't compare the UK salary with ours and please if you can afford it - then good luck to you, but half of the maltese population cannot afford it.
Rita Zammit
May 12th 2012, 12:40
This meningitis vaccine is very important and as citizens who pay our taxes constantly, I say that it is our right for this vaccine to included in the government free vaccines and immunisation clinics and it is also our children's right.
This vaccine alone cost 200 Euros, and I am sorry to say, but not everyone can afford it. I don't and neither does my cousin who has 3 kids. How can I pay 400 euros to give it to my 2 kids when we are on minimum wage?? I will gladly not pay 3 months taxes and instead spend the money on this vaccine, but I can't as otherwise I will be breaking the law. So, dear government, you cannot ask us to pay taxes and pay privately for this important vaccine. It is advisory by WHO to immunize our kids and everyone knows that it's important. Why is our tax money being spend of silly events, such as Eurovision and Isle of MTV and qatta Illegal Immigrants li gejjin mil-Africa kollha, when our own blood, our own maltese children are being denied this meningitis vaccine??? Shame on the government (ikun min ikun - LP u PN) and on the health authority and advisory board !! Imma nahseb lil uliedkom, ghax intom ghadkom il-flus, tajtuielom hux???? Shame on you !! Charity begins at home, u l-ewwel nahsbu fis-sahha t'uliedna imbghad fic-cuccati l'ohra.
Colin Stanley
May 12th 2012, 12:27
WHAT AGE MUST THE CHILDREN BE, BEFORE BEING VACCINATED.?
Rachel Roberts
May 12th 2012, 12:51
Anybody under the age of 25 can have the Men C vaccine. Babies in the UK are routinely vaccinated at 3 and 4 months of age. http://www.nhs.uk/Planners/vaccinations/Pages/childvaccines.aspx
Mr joseph micallef
May 12th 2012, 12:56
if takn before 12 months, 3 doses- 2 before 12 months and 1 after 12 months
if taken after 12months , 1 dose
L Busuttil
May 12th 2012, 11:55
Even if the meningitis vaccine does not make it to the free medicines list I strongly urge parents to make sure their children are vaccinated. Three years ago I lost my two year old son to the deadly bacterium. On a Friday my son woke up with fever. Nothing special considering that toddlers frequently develop fever for a multitude of reasons. Nonetheless we called onto a paediatrician who visited in the early afternoon and wrongly diagnosed my son to suffer from gastric flu. At 8pm we noticed five tiny spots on his skin and rushed him to Mater Dei. I remain eternally indebted to the nurses and doctors who worked relentlessly at the NPICU. My son lost the battle for his life 5 days later.
Before this incident my son was vaccinated for a long list of ailments. Some vaccines were offered for free by the government, some not. As parents we were never made aware that there is a vaccine against the type C meningitis. If my son had been vaccinated with the Meningitec vaccine he would still be around. Sadly we can do nothing to bring him back. You can prevent this from occurring to your own children by ensuring they are vaccinated. Do read more on http://www.meningitis.org/
Joseph Mizzi
May 12th 2012, 11:18
Priority should be given to the pneumococcal vaccine to be included in the national immunization programme. Pneumoccal disease is childhood includes ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis and septicaemia - the latter two diseases are potentially fatal or can leave the child with severe neurological problems (deafness, etc). Throughout the years I remember several young children who died of pneumococcal disease. Many parents give the vaccine privately, but it should be available to all young Maltese children. This vaccine is included in the national programmes in most European countries.
Celine Grech
May 12th 2012, 11:14
While still in Malta, we inoculated our boys with all the childhood vaccinations, but as soon as we moved to the UK, and registered with the local clinic, they were both immediately called in to be given the Meningitis vaccine, and the booster a couple of years later. On the NHS. So this should be really looked into for Malta.
Rita Zammit
May 12th 2012, 12:53
I am happy for you, however sadly enough our maltese government does't care and give a dime about the health our our children !!!
n said
May 12th 2012, 11:08
why does everything have to be free to be done - isnt your child's health important enough for parents to pay for something as important as this??????
Rita Zammit
May 12th 2012, 12:26
Mela ghax tista taffordja int, jista jaffordja kullhadd?
George Calleja
May 12th 2012, 12:41
@ Rita Zammit
Imma ghat-tombla, is-super five u l-coffee mornings kulhadd ghandu!!!!!
Rita Zammit
May 12th 2012, 12:56
@ George Calleja
Tparlax fil-vojt il-ghaliex Le mhux vera la ghat-tombla, la ghal coffee mornings u l-anqas ghas-Super Five ma ghandi jien. Ghandi xorti naf li jezistu such events ghax qatt ma kelli l-opportunita li ingawdijhom. Din li titfu lil kullhadd fl-istess mizien aqtawha l'ghaliex mhux vera, mhux kullhadd jilghabhom u mhux kullhadd imur l-coffee mornings. L-iskola tal-gvern, tant kemm giet expensive, li bil-kemm inlahqu maghha, ahseb u ara kemm inlahqu mat-tombla ahna !!! Dan tieghek paroli fil-vojt.
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