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Researchers have discovered that two new vaccines can cut the transmission of meningitis bacteria from person to person by nearly 40 percent. 

These two vaccines reduce 'carriage' of the responsible bacteria in the nose and throats of the population. 

"The standard practice is to vaccinate with the aim of inducing high levels of antibodies in the blood to protect against the disease, but we know that these antibodies can disappear over the course of a few months," said lead researcher Robert Read, Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Southampton, in the press release. 

"This study is telling us that the vaccines also have an effect on carriage in the throat and explains why they can be so effective across the population."

Meningitis causes inflammation of the meninges accompanied by intense fever and headache. According to researchers, findings of the study could change the way new vaccines are made in future. 

The research took place over 10 centers across the UK and tested the effectiveness of two meningitis vaccines - MenACWY-CRM and 4CMenB - on participants aged 18 to 24 years old.

MenACWY-CRM was shown to reduce carriage rates by 39 per cent while the 4CMenB vaccine reduced carriage rates by between 20 and 30 per cent, according to press release. 

 The study has been published in the journal The Lancet.