New meningitis jab for millions across African

 Geneva, 23 Nov-(ANA)-Health officials say they will begin the roll out of a new meningitis vaccine for sub-Saharan Africa on 6 December.

The vaccine, which has been developed in India, costs less the fifty US cents a dose and clinical tests suggest it could offer protection for between 10 and 15 years.

Seasonal epidemics of meningitis kill thousands in Africa every year.

Vaccinations will start in Burkina Faso, then move to Niger and Mali.

Officials say clinical trials of the new vaccine have shown it to be highly effective in protecting against Meningitis A - a form of meningitis which kills thousands of young people each year across a swathe of sub-Saharan Africa dubbed the "meningitis belt".

The vaccine is similar in concept to the one used successfully in Britain to tackle Meningitis C.

If all goes to plan, it will first be offered to anyone aged between one and 29 years across 25 African states from Senegal in the west to Somalia in the east.

The drug was developed in India at the cost of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, but much more money will be required to complete the initial vaccination programme - some $ 570 million according to World Health Organization officials. (ANA)

FA/ANA/23 November 2010--------