UPDATE: Parents of 18-year-old university student Meg Draper are urgently calling for the NHS to offer a life-saving vaccine after their daughter tragically died from a preventable infection. Meg, a promising physiotherapy student, succumbed to meningococcal type B meningitis in October 2023, leaving her family devastated and raising questions about vaccine accessibility for young adults.
Meg’s parents, Helen and her husband, are now advocating for the MenB vaccine to be included in the NHS vaccination program for those aged 16 to 25, a demographic identified as highly at risk. Despite the vaccine’s proven effectiveness—reducing MenB cases by 62%—it is currently offered only to children under five, leaving a gap in protection for older teens and young adults.
Meg was a vibrant student, known for her love of swimming and netball, and she had just begun her university journey when she developed symptoms, including fever and a rash. She passed away just days after her initial symptoms appeared, shocking her family and friends. Helen Draper expressed her heartbreak, stating, “To think she was only there for five weeks, but the amount of friends she had at university – we couldn’t get over how impactful she’d been in such a short space of time.”
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) determined in 2014 that a routine MenB vaccination for young adults was “not cost-effective,” a decision that has come under scrutiny in light of Meg’s case. Her parents revealed that they were unaware of the option to pay £220 for the vaccine privately, a fee they would have covered without hesitation, highlighting a significant knowledge gap among young adults and their families regarding vaccine availability.
Helen noted, “We’ve spoken to hundreds of people who have reached out, and we’re yet to find a single person that was aware. That really scared us.” The need for public awareness and access to the MenB vaccine has never been more critical.
The family has teamed up with the National Union of Students to push for immediate changes in vaccination policy. “Every day without this vaccine is a day too long,” Helen stated, urging health officials to reconsider the current vaccination guidelines.
As the community mourns Meg’s tragic loss, her story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of vaccination and public health awareness. The Draper family hopes that their advocacy will spark change, ensuring that no other families have to endure such heartbreak.
Stay tuned as this story develops, and consider sharing this urgent message to raise awareness about the MenB vaccine and its critical role in protecting young adults from preventable diseases.
