It said that since the immunisation programme began last year more than 16,000 adverse reactions have been reported by GPs. According to the department, two of the 11 had pre-existing heart conditions, two died of group B meningitis, one of a convulsion 10 days after he was vaccinated. The six others died of cot death. Meningitis is the inflammation of the tissues which cover the brain and spinal cord. Most cases in the UK and Ireland are caused by bacteria or viruses.
Bacterial meningitis is generally more serious.
While meningococcal disease is the main cause of bacterial meningitis, there are many other types including pneumococcal, Hib, Group B streptococcal and others. Meningococcal septicaemia is a type of blood poisoning which is caused by the same bacteria that cause the most common form of bacterial meningitis. At any given time in the UK, one person in ten will be carrying the bacteria which can cause meningococcal meningitis or septicaemia. We carry them in the back of our nose and throat without ever realising they are there. However, in a few people the bacteria overcome the body s immune defences and pass through the lining of the nose and throat into the blood stream.