Children to learn about germs, antibodies and vaccines and have fun doing it

23 October 2009

Professor Ray Borrow, who heads the Vaccine Evaluation Unit at the HPA's Regional Laboratory in Manchester, said: "We want children to have fun building microbes and the antibodies that protect against these microbes with playdoh, but the games will have a serious purpose.

"Our visitors will learn how bacteria can cause serious diseases such as meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia.  They will also learn how vaccines protect against infectious disease by giving the human body immunity. People who are vaccinated against a particular infection develop antibodies that defend them against that infection in future. 

"It will be educational, but we can promise visitors to our stand, young and old, that they will have an enjoyable experience. We aim to make science interesting and at the same time give children and their parents the knowledge they need to protect themselves and others from avoidable infectious illness."

The unit headed by Professor Borrow in what is now the HPA North West Regional Laboratory in Manchester evaluated the Group C meningococcal vaccine before it came into use in the United Kingdom in November 1999.

Prior to the introduction of this vaccine over 1,000 laboratory confirmed cases of Group C meningococcal disease were recorded in England and Wales every year and approximately 10% of these cases would die.

Ten years on, thanks to the success of the Group C meningococcal vaccine, which has created what is known as "herd immunity" in the community thanks to high uptake, Group C meningococcal disease has virtually disappeared. Just six cases were confirmed in England and Wales in 2009 to date.

The Vaccine Evaluation Unit is currently working with the pharmaceutical industry and other partners on the development and evaluation of vaccines that will protect against Group B meningococcal disease, the major cause of meningitis and septicaemia in the United Kingdom.

The Manchester-based team is also working with a range of international partners including the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation on the development of an improved Group A meningococcal vaccine for use in a group of countries collectively known as the "meningitis belt" in Sub-Saharan Africa. These countries are periodically plagued by epidemics of meningococcal infection.

Notes to editors

Professor Ray Borrow and colleagues from the HPA's Vaccine Evaluation Unit will be available at the Manchester Science Festival in the Museum of Science and Industry between 10.00am and 4.00pm on Wednesday 28 October and Sunday 1 November.

Their contribution will be to the 'Mind and Body activities' section of the Festival.

As stated in the press release, the team will invite children to join in interactive activities that demonstrate what bacteria look like, how they cause diseases such as meningitis and how these diseases can be prevented through vaccination.

Alternative quote from Prof Borrow

Professor Borrow said: "We at the HPA are keen to inform the public about infectious diseases and how they can be prevented. Children and adults who visit us at MOSI will  have a chance to learn about the bacteria that cause meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia and about how vaccines create the antibodies that give people immunity to some of these serious infections.

"Above all we want the children who visit us to have fun. They will learn through creating bacteria and antibodies with playdoh. It will be educational, but we will also do all we can to make it an enjoyable experience."

Press release issued by Hugh Lamont, Communications Manager, HPA North West. Tel. 0151-482-5728 or 07764-906508.

Last reviewed: 23 October 2009