Derry children still at risk: Durkan renews call for extension of Men B vaccine

A year after the introduction of the revolutionary new meningococcal group B (Men B) vaccine Bexsero, Derry children remain at risk from the devastating disease, SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has said. Stressing millions of young children in Britain still remained at risk, Mr Durkan renewed his call for the British government today (the first anniversary of Bexsero’s introduction to all babies under 1 on the NHS), to extend the vaccine to all children who are at risk of contracting Men B, in particular under 5s. Mr Durkan helped to lead the parliamentary push at Westminster for the successful introduction of the Men B vaccine for babies aged up to one, and also supported the local campaign by Derry parents Emma and Darren Cowey who lost their nine-month-old son Jamie to Men B in November 2004. He said: “The lives of so many families in Derry and across the North have been turned upside down by this devastating disease. “We have a vaccine that has the potential to save many young lives and we should be using it. “I am therefore joining the call on the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to mark today’s anniversary by taking the extra step now to extend the vaccine. “The government must review the current vaccine regime in order to protect children, not least those, who through fluke of timing, weren’t protected. “I am also supporting Meningitis Now’s new ‘Give Children A Voice’ campaign which highlights the restrictive nature of the government’s current programme. “The charity is collecting signatures to add to a letter to Jeremy Hunt which will be presented to him at Westminster in the coming weeks by a child who has missed out on the vaccine. “I would therefore encourage as many people as possible to send a clear message to the Health Secretary – put children’s lives before cost and make an urgent decision to extend the Men B vaccine.” To add your name to the ‘Give Children A Voice’ campaign visit www.meningitisnow.org/how-we-help/campaigns/give-children-voice Photo shows Mr Durkan supporting the local campaign by Emma and Darren Cowey from Tullyally who lost their nine-month-old son Jamie to Men B in November 2004.