You may have seen immunisation in the news recently. The Daily Mail ran a story with page one headline BABIES TO GET 25 VACCINES.

This (or the story about this) has "sparked fears about immunisation overload"

The essential story (from 9th Feb 2006) is that the current 21 vaccines will be increased by three to include pneumococcal vaccines for meningitis, blood poisoning and pneumonia - and a booster against Hib, an infection which can cause bacterial meningitis.

The Chief Medical Officer is reported to say the extra vaccinations would save at least 50 lives per year.

Some campaigners are already concerned about a link between the triple MMR vaccine and autism.

The new schedule will be introduced across the UK from April 2006.

Story links

• www.jabs.org.uk
• www.dailymail.co.uk