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A promising 18-year-old student, Meg Draper, tragically died just weeks into her university journey after contracting meningococcal type B meningitis (MenB). Her untimely death has ignited urgent pleas from her family and student advocates for the routine availability of the MenB vaccine for young adults on the National Health Service (NHS), a measure they believe could have saved her life.
Meg, a popular and athletic teenager from Pontypool, Torfaen, had embraced student life at Bournemouth University, where she was pursuing her dream of studying physiotherapy. She quickly became a valued member of both the swimming and netball teams, making a significant impact on her new community. However, her vibrant start was cut short when she developed symptoms, including lethargy, fever, a severe headache, vomiting, and a rash, which rapidly escalated, leading to her death in October.
The MenB vaccine, the sole protection against the strain responsible for over 82% of UK meningitis cases, is currently only offered on the NHS to infants, who are considered the highest risk group. While it provides protection for a few years, a booster or initial vaccination for older children and young adults comes at a private cost of approximately £220. Meg had received immunisations against other meningitis strains (A, C, W, and Y) at age 14, but her parents, Helen and Lee Draper, expressed their profound shock upon learning of a separate, privately available MenB vaccination. Millenium TV has learned that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) concluded in 2014 that a routine jab for young adults was “not cost-effective.”
Meningitis involves the dangerous swelling of the meninges, the protective tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, typically triggered by a bacterial infection. University students face a heightened risk due to close living arrangements and frequent social mixing, as the bacteria responsible for meningitis can spread in ways similar to the common cold, through coughing and sneezing. While rare in those over four, a secondary, less common peak of MenB cases is observed in teenagers, intensifying calls for broader vaccination coverage.
Dr. Tom Nutt, Chief Executive of the charity Meningitis Now, emphasized the severe danger posed by MenB, stating that it can be fatal for up to one in ten individuals and “can kill within 24 hours.” He described it as “a bit of a tragedy” that a protective vaccination exists but is not routinely offered to this vulnerable age group, advocating for prevention over cure as “a good investment in terms of keeping people healthy and saving lives.” A spokesperson for the National Union of Students UK echoed these concerns, highlighting “simply not enough awareness” among young people entering university. They urged the NHS to offer the MenB vaccine, asserting that “there should never be a cost barrier to life-saving vaccines,” and suggested universities consider providing it to their students.
Meg’s mother, Helen Draper, conveyed the family’s disbelief, explaining they “would have paid the £220 to have her vaccinated privately in a heartbeat.” She revealed that “hundreds of people” have reached out, all unaware of the MenB vaccine’s separate status, leading them to feel they had “dropped the ball” initially. Now, the Drapers are unwavering in their commitment to raising awareness and campaigning for systemic change. “We can’t bring Meg back but what we can make sure is that her death isn’t in vain,” Helen Draper stated, adding, “For us, her legacy in doing so is everything.”
The Welsh government adheres to the recommendations of the JCVI for vaccination policy, which advises all UK governments on immunisation matters. A spokesperson for Bournemouth University confirmed that Meg “made a big impression,” and “her loss has been felt deeply.” The university stated it advises students on meningitis vaccination prior to their arrival and throughout the year, running weekly walk-in clinics for MenA, C, W, and Y strains. They also stressed the importance of immediate medical attention for any symptoms, even for vaccinated individuals. Millenium TV understands that the UK Health Security Agency and local health teams have deemed the risk of transmission on campus low, and close contacts have been offered preventative antibiotics.
As the Draper family bravely navigates their grief, their powerful campaign underscores a critical gap in public health policy, urging policymakers to reassess the value of widespread MenB vaccination for young adults. Their fight aims to ensure that no other family endures a similar preventable tragedy.
© Millenium TV
