Cases of meningitis (infection and inflammation of the lining of the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning) due to Meningitis W have been increasing in England, since 2009. This increase seems to be caused by a particularly aggressive strain of the Meningitis W bacteria.

Meningitis W infections are particularly severe and have a higher death rate (1 in 10) than the more common Men C and Men B strains.

The Men ACWY vaccine is currently being rolled out across England to those in school year 9 (children aged 14) and offered to all school leavers, particularly those going to college or university.

Public Health England (PHE) are encouraging new students to contact their GP for a vaccination. Figures GP surgeries at the end of August 2016 showed that only 20% of school leavers aged 18 in the South East had had the jab.

The Meningitis W bacteria lives in the back of the nose and throat and is spread by coughing, kissing and sneezing. One in ten of us carry the bacteria without it causing a problem, however very occasionally the bacteria can lead to meningococcal disease which causes meningitis or septicaemia.

Early symptoms of meningococcal disease include:

• headache
• vomiting
• muscle pain
• fever
• cold hands and feet
• a rash of tiny red pinpricks may also develop once septicaemia has set in. You can tell this is a meningitis rash if it doesn’t fade under pressure – for instance, when gently pressing a glass against it.

At Southdowns Private Healthcare we offer the Men ACYW vaccine to all children from 3 months of age as a single injection.

Whatever your concerns we can help - just give us a call on 033 022 02000 or 01243 766447 or use our online booking system.

Southdowns Private Healthcare have been safely vaccinating children and adults since 2008 against Chicken Pox. Call us on 01243 766 447 to arrange your jab and get protected. You can choose to be seen in either our Emsworth, or Boxgrove Clinics in Hampshire. 

To some the chicken pox vaccine may seem unnecessary as chicken pox in childhood is widely perceived as a generally mild illness. It has been common place for parents to allow their children to be exposed naturally to the illness. However now, most experts advise that the chicken pox vaccine should be widely received within schools and day centres.  

If your child gets chicken pox they are likely to develop a painful, itchy rash of blisters along with a fever and extreme tiredness. Many require antibiotics and the blisters often leave permanent scars.

It is likely that they will have time off school to recover. Indeed before the vaccine was introduced, chicken pox caused around 10, 500 sufferers to go to hospital. The vaccine has the ability to protect children from the illness and whilst no treatment is ever 100% effective for everyone, it will still reduce symptoms.