URGENT UPDATE: The parents of Meg Draper, an 18-year-old university student who tragically died from meningococcal type B meningitis, are calling for immediate access to a life-saving vaccine that could have prevented her death. Meg passed away in October 2023, just days after showing symptoms, including fever and vomiting.
Meg, a vibrant student pursuing her dream of studying physiotherapy, contracted the disease that is preventable with a vaccine typically offered to young children. However, the vaccine is not available for young adults, even though they are at significant risk, according to health officials.
The National Union of Students has joined Meg’s family in advocating for the NHS to extend its vaccination program to include young adults aged 16 to 25. This age group is notably vulnerable, particularly first-year university students, due to increased social interactions.
Meg’s mother, Helen Draper, expressed her devastation, stating they would have paid the £220 fee for a private vaccine if they had known it was an option. “We’ve spoken to hundreds of people who have reached out, and not a single one was aware of it,” she told the BBC. “That really scared us.”
Despite being vaccinated against other strains of meningitis, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) deemed the routine MenB vaccine for young adults as “not cost-effective” back in 2014, a decision that now haunts Meg’s grieving family.
Helen described her daughter as having a “zest for life” and being impactful at university, where she made numerous friends in just five weeks. “Even at her funeral, they had to coachload them all up from Bournemouth,” she recalled, highlighting the depth of Meg’s connections despite her brief time at the university.
As families continue to mourn preventable losses, the call for action grows louder. Parents and advocates are urging the NHS to reconsider its vaccination policies to protect young adults from similar fates. The impact of Meg’s story resonates deeply, igniting discussions about awareness and accessibility of vaccines that can save lives.
The tragic death of Meg Draper serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for public health policy changes. The community waits for a response from health authorities as they push for necessary reforms to prevent further heartbreak.
