|
Major campaign
to reduce the risk of meningitis
As part of a
drive to inform the public about the new meningitis C vaccination
programme, a public information campaign is being launched
today by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland.
More than one
million leaflets entitled Meningitis:
Reduce the risk for children and young people
have been produced to ensure the general public has adequate
information about the vaccine and the vaccination programme.
As well as the
information leaflet, a television and radio advertising campaign
will be broadcast highlighting how important it is that everyone
comes when they are called for the vaccine. Materials have
also been produced for a range of professionals
who will be working to ensure the campaign is successfully
implemented.
Dr Brian Gaffney,
Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency said: "It is
important that people wait until they are called for the meningitis
C vaccine so that an immunisation programme of this size runs
as smoothly as possible. A timetable has been scheduled so
that those at greatest risk can be immunised first. Everyone
under the age of 18 years will be invited to get the vaccine
at their school or at their GP surgery over the next twelve
months.
"The information
leaflet which the Agency has produced as part of the public
information campaign should answer many of the questions the
public may have about the vaccination programme. We have produced
a lot of leaflets because it is important that everyone who
should have information has access to a copy.
"The leaflet
includes information about the vaccine, who will be given
it and when. Information on the signs of meningitis and septicaemia,
or blood poisoning, is also included in the leaflet as the
new vaccine only protects against one strain of meningitis
- meningococcal C infection."
School children
will be given a copy of the information leaflet to bring home
from school and it will also be inserted into a number of
newspapers. Copies
of the leaflet can also be obtained from GP surgeries, health
centres and pharmacies.
END
|
