91Èȱ¬

A senior paediatrician has told 5 live that babies are dying while MPs and manufacturers "haggle" over a life saving vaccine.

A year ago, expert advisers for the government recommended the meningitis B vaccine be given to babies from two months old across the UK on the NHS. But a cost-effective price has not yet been agreed with the manufacturers. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the 91Èȱ¬ he was hopeful that a deal could be reached "very soon". Simon Nadel, Paediatric Consultant at St Mary's Hospital, London was asked by 5 live's Stephen Nolan whether he'd advise parents who can afford it to pay for the vaccination privately. Dr Nadel replied, "yes I would. It's terrible to say that if you can afford it, because that then acts against people who can't afford it, but this is why we want a national immunisation programme"