Summary
An 18-year-old student named Meg Draper died from meningitis shortly after starting university. Her family and the National Union of Students UK are advocating for a meningitis B vaccine to be available to more young adults on the NHS, as the vaccine is currently only available for young children. Meg's parents were unaware a separate meningitis B vaccine existed, which led to their call for improved vaccination awareness.
Key Facts
- Meg Draper was 18 and had just started studying physiotherapy at a university.
- She died from meningococcal type B meningitis shortly after starting university.
- Her parents and the National Union of Students UK want a meningitis B vaccine available to more young adults on the NHS.
- The current NHS vaccine for meningitis B is only offered to young children.
- Older children and teenagers can get the vaccine privately at a cost of about £220.
- University students have a higher risk because meningitis spreads through common interactions like sneezing and coughing.
- Meg's parents were unaware of a separate vaccine for meningitis B when she was vaccinated for other strains at age 14.
- Meningitis is a bacterial infection that causes swelling around the brain and spinal cord.
