NEWS that funding is now in place for all babies in Wales to be vaccinated against meningitis B will be welcomed by every parent whose child has suffered the potentially fatal infection.

Less than a fortnight after it was announced a deal had been struck with drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline over the cost of the vaccinations, the Welsh Government today revealed £7.7 million in funding is now secure.

The cash means the drug will now be added to the national childhood immunisation scheme, meaning babies will receive the first vaccine at two months old, followed by two further doses.

UK Government advisors cleared the way for the vaccinations last year and the devolved administrations have been haggling over costs since then.

This newspaper, like many others around the country, has covered too many tragic stories as a result of youngsters contracting meningitis.

The bacterial infection particularly affects babies in their first year of life. It is also common among children aged under five and in teenagers.

There are fewer than 2,000 cases of meningitis B UK-wide each year but around one in ten of prove fatal.

Among survivors, around one in four suffer long-term problems, such as amputation, deafness, epilepsy and learning difficulties.

Any money used to end such misery is money well spent.