A MENINGITIS charity based in the Stroud district has welcomed the announcement of two new life saving vaccines.

The two vaccines – including the UK’s first meningitis B vaccine – will be rolled out this summer, the Department of Health announced today.

Health minister Jeremy Hunt confirmed that England will become the first country in the world to offer newborn babies the revolutionary new meningococcal group B vaccine Bexsero via a national health service, from September 1.

Additionally, to combat the rise in meningitis W cases in adolescents, all 17 and 18-year-olds will receive the combined meningitis ACWY vaccine from August.

Stroud-based Meningitis Now and its supporters, who have campaigned for two years to get the ground-breaking meningitis B vaccine free on the NHS, welcomed the announcement.

Meningitis Now chief executive Sue Davie said: “We’re delighted that this milestone in the journey to introduce these vaccines and protect our babies and young people from the devastation meningitis causes has been reached.

“These measures will save thousands of lives and protect people from losing loved ones to the deadly disease.”

The national charity’s award-winning 'Beat it Now!' campaign has relentlessly pushed for Bexsero to be free to all babies via the childhood immunisation programme.

Sue added: “It’s a tribute to our supporters’ selfless and tireless efforts that we have now reached this stage.

“However, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that for many the announcement comes too late. We’re here to help them for as long as they need us.”

For more information visit www.MeningitisNow.org.