A new study by a team of researchers from the Oxford University has claimed that there is reason to offer booster doses of the meningitis C vaccine to children 10 years after the first dose.
The meningitis vaccine is routinely administered as part of the usual childhood vaccinations. However when researchers examined the efficacy of the vaccine 10 years after it was first administered they found the effect of the vaccine to have worn off. 
Owing to this the researchers found that as many and three out of every four teens examined were unprotected against this deadly strain of meningitis.
In the study, 250 children aged between 6 and 12 were examined; it was found that 10 years after having received the shot their immunity had worn off. It is therefore now being recommended that children of secondary school age now be revaccinated against meningitis.
Meningitis is a deadly disease that can often result in death of the sufferer if swift and effective treatment is not provided. Meningitis symptoms can include:
- Headache and then Nuchal stiffness (inability to flex the neck) is the most common symptom.
- Sudden very high fever
- Altered mental status
- Photophobia (intolerance to bright light)
- Phonophobia (intolerance to loud noises)
- Bulging of the fontanel among small babies
- Abnormal skin color
Source: Topnews
