Portsmouth MP rallies behind campaign to extend Meningitis vaccination programme

MPs debated the issue following a petition signed by more than 800,000 people calling for the jab to be given not just to those under one, but to older children.

The government said the present system was the right one that was targeting new-borns who were the most high risk group, and to vaccinate older children wouldn’t be cost effective.

But Mrs Drummond said: ‘I very much understand that the government must ensure that any vaccination programme offers the best outcomes for the cost of what is an expensive vaccine but, in this case, I think that it would be in the best interests of everyone to ensure that all children up to 11 receive it.

‘This is a terrible disease that causes death and severe disability in children of all ages and it can be prevented by this vaccination, so I urge the government to look again at its decision.’