THE Welsh Government has announced £7.7m of funding so all babies in Wales will be vaccinated against meningitis B.
The move comes after a UK-wide deal was struck with vaccine manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline.
In 2014, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) – the independent panel of experts, which advises the UK countries on vaccination programmes - recommended every child over two months old should be given the vaccine.
The vaccine will now be added to the national childhood immunisation programme in Wales – babies will receive the first meningitis B vaccine at two months old, followed by two further doses.
Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford said: “These negotiations mean we have now secured a meningitis B vaccine, which will benefit the health of all babies in Wales.
“Now a price has been agreed we will work to make this vaccination available as soon as practicable.
“We have made £7.7m of funding available to make sure this vaccine becomes part of our national childhood immunisation programme for Wales.”
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