Parents urged to ensure children get booster vaccine
The Government's National Immunisation Advisory Committee has urged parents to ensure young children receive a meningitis booster vaccine when it becomes available next month.
The booster is being offered to children between the ages of six months and four years.
The move follows a number of cases where children have developed a form of meningitis caused by the bacterium haemophilus influenzae, despite being immunised against it.
One of those children, a two-year-old boy from Co Louth, has died from the infection, which is more commonly referred to as Hib.
Earlier this year, experts warned the Department of Health that a booster vaccine would be needed as some vaccinated children were developing the infection.
At present, children receive the vaccine at two, four and six months, but the jabs are not always effective for the entire risk period up to five years of age.
