The Department of Health has said that it is ‘currently considering' a recommendation to introduce a vaccine against the potentially deadly disease, meningitis B.

The news comes after it was confirmed that the vaccine is to be offered free of charge to babies in the UK, including Northern Ireland.

Meningitis is a inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, which can be viral or bacterial in origin. Meningitis B is bacterial and is responsible for the majority of meningitis cases in Ireland.

Until recent years, there was no vaccine against the B strain of the disease, however in 2013, a vaccine was licensed. It is currently available privately from GPs, but costs over €300.

According to the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF), a charity which is based in the UK and Ireland, the news that the vaccine is to be made available free of charge to babies by the NHS in Britain has been widely welcomed. It noted that meningitis B leads to death in around 10% of cases and to long-term side effects in a further 36% of cases.

"When this vaccine is finally introduced (in the UK) it will save lives and spare countless families the trauma of seeing a loved one die or become seriously disabled because of meningitis B. The bitter experience of those who have been personally affected has been vital in our campaigning for this vaccine, demonstrating the compelling case for prevention," commented MRF chief executive, Chris Head.

It has emerged that in Ireland, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), recommended to the Department of Health two weeks ago that the vaccine should be introduced here as part of the Childhood Immunisation Programme.

This programme entitles children and young people to certain vaccinations and immunisation services free of charge. While not mandatory in Ireland, vaccination is strongly advised by the health authorities. Vaccines currently included in the programme include the BCG, which protects against tuberculosis, the MMR, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella and a vaccine against meningitis C.

The department has confirmed that the NIAC has recommended that ‘if a cost effective agreement can be reached with the manufacturer, then the meningitis B vaccine should be introduced'.

"The department is currently considering the committee's recommendation," it added.

For more information on vaccination, or to keep track of your child's vaccines, see our unique Child Immunisation Tracker here