Dutch initiate major vaccination campaign against meningitis C

Following the recommendation of the Gezondheidsraad (Health Council) of the Netherlands to the minister of health in favour of universal vaccination against infections with group C meningococci and pneumococci (1), the minister announced in parliament on 18 March her decision to accept the advice. The number of serotyped cases of meningitis C in the Netherlands rose from 86 in 1999 and 105 in 2000 to 275 in 2001.