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This autumn Britain becomes the first country to launch a new vaccine against
group C meningitis, which is expected to dramatically cut the death toll from
the disease. Existing vaccines only protect for up to two years, and do not work
in infants under two. The new vaccine should overcome these problems, and will
initially be targeted at young children and teenagers. However, 60 per cent of
meningitis cases in Britain are of the slightly less deadly group B. Vaccines
against this bacteria are being tested
(Technology, 24 May 1997, p 20), but are
unlikely to be available for several years.