AN AGREEMENT to provide the meningitis B vaccine to all UK children has been welcomed by Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.

The deal comes after long negotiations between the government and GlaxoSmithKline over the cost of the vaccine, which will now be introduced on the NHS this year.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Member of Parliament for The Cotswolds, welcomed the inclusion of the Bexsero vaccination against meningitis B as part of the Childhood Immunisation Scheme.

The Cotswold MP began leading the campaign for a national roll out of the Bexsero vaccine when his constituents, Dr and Mrs Turner, lost their Granddaughter to Meningitis B.

Mr Clifton-Brown said "Following a long campaign, led by myself and involving a number of other MPs and the two charities Meningitis Now and the Meningitis research Foundation, I am delighted that the government have reached a deal with GSK to roll out the Bexsero vaccine to all children, making the UK the first country in the world to have a national vaccine against Meningitis B.

"This news will provide reassurance to pregnant women that their new born child will be protected against this horrible disease and I look forward to seeing the vaccine implemented later this year.

"Hopefully this will mean that the tragedy experienced by my constituents will not have to be repeated."