BABIES should receive the new Meningitis B vaccine as soon as possible, a Bolton MP has urged.

Bolton West MP Julie Hilling, pictured, responded to an announcement by the Department for Health, which said the vaccine is being recommended for inclusion in the National Immunisation Programme.

Backing the “Beat It Now!” campaign, she said: “We have an opportunity to prevent a disease which kills or severely harms many in the UK and we need to make it available to all babies on the NHS without delay.”

For more information about the campaign go to MeningitisNow.org/ beat-it-now