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

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20062007

20082009

20100

10

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50

60

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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