Dr. Colette Bonner:

I thank the Meningitis Research Foundation for its balanced and considered presentation. We concur with the figures which show a considerable reduction in the incidence of meningococcal disease related to many organisms as a result of our vaccination campaign. In regard to the meningococcal B vaccine, Dr. Kelleher explained how the process involves NIAC. If the vaccine proves effective we will do everything in our power to introduce it into our immunisation schedule.

However, we will do everything in our power to ensure that if it is proved to be an effective vaccine to introduce into our immunisation schedule, we will do as much as we can to get it introduced as early as possible into our vaccination programme.