PARENTS of children in Gwent born on or after July 1 this year will from today be offered a new vaccine protecting against meningitis B, as part of a Wales- and UK-wide immunisation drive.

The MenB vaccine, protecting against meningococcal group B disease, will be offered on a three-dose basis with other routine vaccinations, at two months, four months and 12-13 months of age, when babies are most at risk of developing the disease.

Public health experts are warning however, that parents should remain alert to the dangers of MenB, as the vaccine does not protect against all strains of the disease.

Meningitis B can cause meningitis - an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord - and septicaemia (blood poisoning) which are both serious and potentially fatal illnesses.

Most cases of meningitis and septicaemia in the UK are caused by the B type, especially in young children and teenagers.

In the last 20 years, 500-1,700 people have developed meningitis B every year in England and Wales, around half of them under five years of age.

The UK is the first country to routinely offer the vaccine, alongside the MenC vaccine which is already given at three months of age.

Parents of children born on or after July 1 this year should await an invitation to have their child vaccinated.

There will also be a ‘catch up’ campaign for children born between May 1 and June 30 this year, who will receive one or two doses of the vaccine, along with other routine immunisations.

Parents are being advised that in some children, a fever may develop as the body responds to the vaccine.

The fever peaks around six hours after vaccination but is nearly always mild and gone within two days.

“Meningococcal B disease can be devastating for babies and young children, and it has cut many lives short and left young people disabled," said Dr Richard Roberts, head of the Public Health Wales vaccine preventable disease programme.

“The vaccine cannot protect against all strains of MenB and it is therefore really important that parents and carers remain alert to the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia and seek medical advice immediately if they suspect a child is unwell.”

Information on meningococcal disease and symptoms is available at www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/page/43792

* Students under 25 who are attending university for the first time this autumn are being reminded too, that they are eligible to receive the new MenACWY vaccine, protecting against a range of strains of meningitis.