The family of a teenage girl who died after contracting the most deadly form of meningitis have welcomed the news a vaccination could soon be available.
Babies will be routinely immunised against meningitis B if costs are agreed by the NHS.
Under mounting pressure from charities and senior doctors, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), has agreed to adopt the Bexsero vaccine after rejecting it last year.
Shomi Miah, from Aberdeen, was 17 when she died of meningococcal septicaemia in October 2004. Hours before, an NHS 24 nurse had told her family to give the Harlaw Academy pupil painkillers because she probably had the flu.
Almost six years later to the day her brother Asad, then 13, was struck down by the deadly bug but battled back to health.
Their brother Jab Miah, 33, co-manager of Cinnamon Indian restaurant on Union Street, Aberdeen, said yesterday that the news of the vaccination was “fantastic”.
“We’ve been working with meningitis charities since 2005 in an effort to help to try and find a vaccination. Hopefully this will save many lives.
“It’s a deadly disease and not one to be taken lightly.”
Around 1,870 people contract meningitis B each year and one in 10 dies.
About one in four of those who survive are left with long-term problems, such as amputation, deafness, epilepsy and learning difficulties.
Symptoms include a high fever with cold hands and feet, confusion, vomiting and headaches.
Mary Millar, Scotland manager of the Meningitis Research Foundation, said: “It’s a wonderful outcome which will save lives and spare countless families the trauma of seeing a loved one seriously disabled by the devastating after effects of MenB.
“The bitter experience of those who have suffered was vital in our campaign for this vaccine, demonstrating the compelling case for prevention.”
The Scottish Government has welcomed the announcement and confirmed its commitment to the programme.
Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: “We will be working to ensure that this vaccine can be introduced as quickly as possible into Scotland’s routine childhood immunisation schedule.”