Babies to get 'gut bug vaccine

Babies to get 'gut bug vaccine

By James Gallagher
Health and science reporter, BBC News



Prof David Salisbury, Director of Immunisation, DoH: "We expect this will save around £20m"

Continue reading the main story Related Stories

• WHO backs anti-diarrhoea vaccine
  

Babies
in the UK are to be vaccinated against a tummy bug which causes tens of
thousands of cases of vomiting and diarrhoea each year.

Rotavirus infection is rarely fatal in the UK.

Using the vaccine has cut cases and reduced hospital admissions in other countries, including the US.

The Department of Health said the vaccine would be offered
from September 2013 and would be given in two doses after two and three
months.

Continue reading the main story Childhood vaccines

Two months

* Five-in-one: first dose for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b jab

• Pneumococcal infection
  
• Rotavirus from September 2013
  

Three months

* Second five-in-one

• Meningitis C
  
• Second rotavirus from September 2013
  

Four months

• Third five-in-one
  
• Second Pneumococcal infection
  
• Second meningitis C
  

One year

• MMR
  
• Third Pneumococcal infection
  
• Booster for Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningitis C
  

Source: NHS Choices

The bug is very infectious and
causes about 140,000 cases every year in the under-fives. About 14,000
will need hospital treatment.

Experts believe that vaccination would cut the number of cases in half and lead to 70% fewer hospital visits.

Distress
Prof David Salisbury, the director of immunisation at the
Department of Health, said the virus "spreads very easily" and causes
distress for children and families.

"Many people think of diarrhoea as something that all
children get and that you have to put up with. But there is a way to
protect children from this. I'd encourage all parents of young children
to accept this vaccine when the programme begins next year."

He added the vaccine - which is administered in drops - had
been "used very extensively" with "huge trials demonstrating both its
safety and its effectiveness".

It is expected to cost £25m a year to vaccinate 840,000
children a year. However, the government believes cutting the number of
cases will save the NHS £20m.

Prof Adam Finn, from the University of Bristol, said:
"Rotavirus causes large epidemics of diarrhoea and vomiting in babies
and young children every winter and with it, misery for thousands of
families across the country.

"I'm pleased that another unpleasant illness that affects
most children is going to be brought under control. It will also help
hospitals cope in the busy winter months by reducing pressure on beds
and front-line staff."

Dr David Elliman, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and
Child Health, said the vaccine would prevent a "huge amount of
suffering" and save the NHS money.

"This vaccine will mean less pressure both on distressed
parents who have to care for their children and of course the GPs and
hospital services who are treating them," he said.


Source:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20268350