FAQs

What has been the impact of the MenC vaccine?

Before the introduction of MenC vaccine in November 1999, serogroup C disease was the second most common cause of meningococcal disease, accounting for around 40% of all cases.

Serogroup C disease now accounts for less than 10% of cases, with serogroup B disease accounting for over 80% of cases.

After the MenC vaccine was introduced, there was a significant fall - over 90% - in the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of group C disease in all age groups.

There was also a reduction of around 70% in the unimmunised age groups, which suggests that this vaccine has produced a herd immunity effect.

The UK was the first country in the world to introduce the MenC vaccine, and other countries including Canada, The Netherlands, Spain, France and Australia have now introduced MenC into their childhood immunisation programmes.