We think it has so far led to a 70 per cent reduction in the C strain of meningitis although it is still early days. Most of these reported reactions are very mild and they are reported reactions not confirmed reactions. But the number of complaints about the vaccine since its introduction in schools eight months ago is less than a thousand than the total number received in the 37 years of the whooping cough inoculation programme. It also dwarfs the number of parents who have raised concerns about the MMR jab for measles, mumps and rubella. Nationally 4,764 children have reportedly suffered adverse reactions following the Meningitis C inoculation - around one in every 3,000 cases.
Symptoms vary from headaches, to epileptic fits and black-outs.
Only 5,750 reactions have been reported for the whooping cough vaccine in 37 years. Ashley was hospitalised for two days and placed on medication after collapsing. He had colds, which he never gets, ear infections, headaches and kept falling asleep. I later learned these were seizures and then about three and a half weeks ago he had a major fit. He just collapsed as he was going to play golf with a friend.