Parents in North Tyneside are being urged to inoculate their children with a new vaccine which protects against harmful diseases including meningitis.

Estimates show that over 300 children have avoided serious illness like meningitis, septicaemia and severe pneumonia after being given the pneumoccocal conjugate vaccine - just one year after its launch.

Of these 300 cases, it is estimated that 17 would have died, and about 30 would have been left with a permanent disability.

However, uptake of the new vaccine remains lower than vaccines for other illnesses.

Figures released recently by the Health Protection Agency show that 86 per cent of children have received their PCV vaccine so far - leaving one in six children without protection.

Alan Campbell MP said ‘It is very important that parents are aware that there is a vaccination available to protect against such major illnesses.  The figures show the vaccine has already prevented many serious illnesses in children but with the uptake remaining low I would urge parents to be aware that the vaccine is available from their local surgeries’.

If parents want any more information or want to discuss immunisations they should talk to their health visitor, practice nurse or GP.