A reduction of nearly 60 per cent in cases of meningitis C was welcomed today as evidence of the success of a Department of Health immunisation programme.
According to figures released by the National Disease Surveillance centre in the age groups targeted by the vaccine programme - under five years and 15 to 18 - 26 meningitis C cases were recorded, a fall of 57 per cent on the previous year's total of 61.
The figures also show there were three deaths due to meningitis C during the period October 2000 to April 2001 compared to five deaths in the same period the previous year.
Ms Margaret Fitzgerald, surveillance scientist with the NDSC, said the figures were proof that the vaccination programme was having a very positive effect.
The Department of Health invested £25 million to launch the National Immunisation Programme for meningitis C in October 2000 with the aim of vaccinating everybody up to 22 years-of-age.
Phase two of this programme, which was launched this March, is targeting the national school pupils in the five to 12-years-of-age group. The Department of Health has ear-marked a further £42 million for the programme this year.
Since October all babies receive the meningitis C vaccine free as part of the Childhood Immunisation Scheme.
