Source: ECDC report 2011

Meningococcal Diseasedeadly, disabling, disfiguring

Leading infectious cause of death in children

Long-term after effects for 1 in 3 affected

Top among illnesses feared by parents

Strikes suddenly, mainly healthy children

Rapid onset: brief window for effective medical treatment

Staggering costs

After effects

Meningitis Septicaemia

• Deafness• Severe learning

impairment• Paralysis, plegia• Blindness• Epilepsy• Psychosocial

problems

• Amputations• Skin, muscle damage• Distorted bone growth• Arthritis• Kidney damage• Cognitive problems• Psychosocial problems

Costs of severe cases

Meningitis Septicaemia

• Acute medical costs• Long-term medical

costs• Specialist equipment• Special education• Direct social care

costs, benefits, lost tax revenue

• Acute costs• Outpatient costs,

prosthetics, corrective surgery

• Specialist equipment• School adaptation and

support• Direct social costs,

benefits, lost tax revenue£4,474,427 £3,038,719

Litigation costs

Limited potential for improved diagnosis and treatment

• Early symptoms resemble mild illnesses

• ~50% of children sent home by GPs

• Short window for intervention• Most deaths within 24 hours

• Better antibiotics and management: fatality reduced

• 2 decades: every new therapeutic drug unsuccessful in clinical trials

Impact of Hib vaccine in Ireland

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

20082009

20100

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90N

umbe

r of c

ases

Hib vaccine

Hib booster campaign

Adapted from Guidelines for (HPSC (2012) The early clinical and public health management of bacterial meningitis

Incidence of Meningococcal Disease in Ireland

Men C vaccine

Reduction in invasive pneumococcal disease in young children

Prevention is better than cure