A MASS vaccination campaign swung into action yesterday to prevent thousands of youngsters contracting the deadly brain bug meningitis.

A team of health care workers is visiting all secondary schools in the Eastleigh area to immunise 16- and 17-year-olds against the potentially fatal C strain of the disease.

Last year there were more than 1,500 cases of group C meningitis and septicaemia in the UK which claimed 150 lives.

Clinics will also be run for 16- and 17- year-olds who are not at school or college.

Winchester and Eastleigh NHS Trust's school health department is undertaking the vaccination programme, part of a national Department of Health campaign.

A spokesman said: "Because the vaccine has only just been licensed for use the high risk groups, 15-17 years, will be vaccinated first.

"As more supplies are available all those under the age of 18 will be vaccinated."

Babies, the next high-risk group, will be offered the new vaccine along with their routine jabs for other diseases.

From November 29, those attending for their first MMR immunisation at 13-15 months will also be offered the new meningitis vaccine.

Babies between four and 12 months will be sent special appointments to have the preventative treatment at their GP surgery. Next year the immunisation programme will be spread to toddlers and younger schoolchildren.

"The new meningitis C vaccine has been tested on thousands of babies and children and the separate components of the vaccine have been in use for 30 years. No serious side effects have been reported," added the health authority spokesman.

The new vaccine protects against group C meningitis and septicaemia. But at present there is no protection against group B meningitis.

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