New vaccine rushed in to meningitis village

IN SMALL groups at an old village school, children living in the shadow of meningitis became the first in the world to receive a new vaccine yesterday. But the vaccine, not yet licensed in this country, caused concern among parents in the former pit village of Ironville in Derbyshire. Before administering it, the team of 16 doctors spent 10 minutes calming fears.

The drug is not due to be used until October, but has been rushed into operation after the death of an eight-year-old, Colin Whitehead, on Sunday. Doctors are baffled by Ironville's susceptibility to meningitis: there have been three outbreaks in as many years.

Last Friday everyone in the village of about 1,600 people was given antibiotics as a stop-gap measure. And all children aged between one and eleven will be treated with the Group C Conjugate Meningococcal Vaccine. Yesterday, each child was asked to stay behind for 15 minutes in case of adverse reactions.

Carol Singleton, deputy director of the Southern Derby-shire Health Authority, said: "This is a very effective vaccine. I know we have said that before, but I am a lot more confident this time."