New vaccine proposal signals welcome news to families in Ireland

According to emerging reports, the HSE intends to ask the Government to provide children with a free vaccine against the meningitis B strain.

In a bid to protect youngsters against the deadly disease which kills more children under the age of five than any other infectious disease, the HSE is requesting that the government pay for the roll-out vaccine.

In addition to this, they have requested in a recent funding proposal that children receive a vaccination against the rotavirus - a virus which causes severe diarrhoea.

According to the Irish Independent, these proposals are contained within the HSE's list of financial demands and amount to almost € 2 billion.

The HSE has explained that drug rationing may become an issue unless additional funding is allocated in 2016.

According to figures, 10% of people who contract meningitis B will die while those who survive the disease are often left with disabilities such as brain damage and aural impairment.