25/12/2025
Final question of the Christmas challenge!
Would I recommended the meningococcal B vaccine?
This vaccine is not yet on the recommended government vaccination schedule in South Africa , but has recently become available and is on the vaccine schedule of several other countries such as the United Kingdom.
Meningitis can be a devastating disease, and two of the bacterial meningitis bugs are already covered in our routine immunisation schedule (strep pneumonia and haemophilus influenza).
The third types of bacterial meningitis bugs, the so called meningococcal bugs of the Neissaria group, can cause devastating consequences. For a few decades now, the strains A,C,Wand Y have been combined in a vaccine which is available in South Africa as an extra to the government schedule. Recently, we've seen the introduction of the meningococcal B vaccine, a super important one to try and reduce potentially devastating consequences of the meningococcal B bacteria. This vaccine is not yet on the government schedule, but is available in private at quite a cost. Is it worth it?
My answer is absolutely yes. I have it on order for my own children, as it is currently recommended for children and young adults between 10 and 25 years of age, especially those in boarding houses or university residences. My guess is that over time it will become part of the routine vaccination schedule of younger children when production costs come down.
🎁🎅🎄❄️☃️🌲⛄️🌨❄️🎁
