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Meningitis vaccine rates among lowest in country

 

Cavan and Monaghan has the second lowest rate nationally for uptake of the MenC (meningitis) booster vaccine, at 73%.

The number of parents allowing their children to receive the vaccine in this constituency has fallen by as much as 13%, an internal HSE memo has shown.
The revelation comes as there were also almost a dozen diagnoses of Meningitis recorded in the region by the HSE in recent months, though none were recorded in Cavan.
Last year, there were four reported cases of Meningococcal Infection in Co Cavan. Two were group C Meningococcus, and the others were group Y and group W135, both of which are rare, the latter being the only form of bacterial meningitis to cause epidemics.
In a letter issued by assistant national director of Health Protection, Dr Kevin Kelleher, says: ‘Uptake for MenC in Cavan/ Monaghan dropped 13% to 73%, second lowest rate in the country.’
He subsequently requests the recipient to ‘review’ data inputting and uptakes of 6 in 1 baby vaccine, MMR, as well as booster vaccines in areas where the standard target of vaccination was not achieved. The move, he said, is to “ensure children are protected from these serious infectious diseases”.
According to reports, in some parts of the country targets for immunisation have fallen by more than 20%, with serious concern raised in areas such as West Cork, Wicklow, and parts of Dublin.
Problems in identifying how many children have actually been immunised against MenC are also raised in internal HSE records.
Dr Kelleher was also critical of the lack of accurate information collated in some areas around the country, with Cavan-Monaghan specified, as was Louth and Meath, as lacking data for immunisations delivered for periods last year.
“Reports on vaccine uptake are vitally important to achieve vaccination targets and ensure children are protected,” he wrote.
In other correspondence, Dr Kelleher asked why vaccination rates have dropped in some areas. There is concern about misinformation circulating. ‘Please review the 12-month vaccine uptake rates and report back whether low vaccine uptakes or recent declines are related to a delay in data entry, delay in GP returns, parents choosing some vaccines over others, increasing anti vaccine sentiment or some other factor,’ he asked.
The MenC vaccine was first introduced in late 2000. It’s estimated that, since then, around 90% of children have become immune to the disease after receiving the recommended vaccine schedule.
Children receive MenC vaccines at two, four and six months of age. A booster dose is recommended for children in first year of second level school and age equivalent in special schools and homeschooled children to provide additional protection.
Meningococcal disease may occur at any age but the highest rate of disease occurs in children under five years of age, especially children under one. The next highest risk group are young people aged 15-19 years.
Meningococcal disease is a serious illness which can cause meningitis (inflammation of the lining around the brain), septicaemia (blood poisoning) and can lead to death.
Earlier this year, elected representatives on Cavan County Council threw their weight behind a campaign calling for the roll-out of a ‘catch-up’ programme to immunise older children against Meningitis B.
It followed the deaths of a number of babies who had contracted meningitis.
The appeal by councillors demanded that the Government reverse a decision not to offer the meningitis B vaccine to infants up to 12 months post October 2016.
It came before the council as an emergency item for discussion, tabled by Fianna Fáil's Shane P O'Reilly.
Children born before October 2016 are not immunised against strain B, but have received the C vaccine, and Cllr O'Reilly said GPs were becoming inundated with calls from frightened parents seeking the vaccine, which costs between €150 to €450.