All newborn babies in England and Scotland are to be offered a vaccine to combat meningitis B from September, the government has announced.
The Men B vaccine will be given to babies at two months, four months and 12 months old.
The scheme, which has been delayed by cost disputes, is the first national and publicly-funded programme against the deadly infection in the world. Meningitis charities said the move would "save lives" straight away.
From August, another Meningitis vaccine - Men ACWY - will be offered to 17 and 18-year-olds and students starting university this year.
Negotiations over the cost of the new baby vaccine were finally resolved in March, meaning the Men B programme will be rolled out in England and Scotland from 1 September, with Wales and Northern Ireland expected to follow suit shortly afterwards.
Image: Gabi Menashe, Flickr
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