To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is being undertaken on vaccination strategy and its possible impact on meningitis. [117549]

Clinical trials are currently being carried out to examine the suitability of including pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the childhood immunisation programme. Research is also being undertaken to decide whether a routine Hib booster will be needed in future.Following the success of the Meningitis C campaign, Meningococcal B vaccines are in development and will be considered for inclusion in the childhood programme as soon as they become available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on links between HiB vaccines and strains of meningitis. [117600]

Hib vaccine prevents infection from Haemophilus influenzae type B (HiB) disease. Wherever the vaccine has been introduced, there has been no evidence of any effect on non-type B Haemophilus strains, nor has it been thought that there was any effect on other infections causing meningitis.