The number of children suffering from the three main strains of meningitis has fallen to a record low, according to the Government.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson hailed the success of three vaccines which fight the most common types of meningitis.
Since the Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) vaccine was introduced in 1992, cases of the disease, which can cause meningitis, have dropped by 99%.
Before its introduction, there were around 800 cases a year but that has now hit a record low of 12 cases last year among children under five.
Meanwhile, cases of Meningitis C have also tumbled thanks to the Meningitis C vaccine, introduced in 1999.
Before the jab came in, there were around 700 cases per year but there is less than one case per year.
Deaths from the disease have also fallen from around 79 to an average of less than one death a year.
The introduction of the vaccine against pneumococcal disease, which can cause pneumococcal meningitis, means cases have fallen from around 300 cases per year to around 40 a year.
It is estimated that more than 900 serious cases have been prevented, saving over 50 lives.
Experts hope to develop a vaccine against the least common type of meningitis - Meningitis B - in the next three years.
