'My son died of meningitis - young people must get new jab'

The mother of a "funny and talented" teenager who died of meningitis says it is "crucial" young people get a new jab against the disease.

Michelle Bresnahan said her 16-year-old son Ryan died in Bristol "incredibly quickly" in 2010 of meningococcal type B meningitis (MenB) when no vaccine was available for young people at the time.

The NHS has rolled out a vaccine programme to one million young people in the UK from Monday to help protect against MenB for what it described as a "life-saving jab".

Michelle said: "Vaccination saves lives and we never had that opportunity. We never had that available to us. It's so important people do take up the vaccination that's offered."

The one-off programme has been launched as a precaution after the UK's largest and fastest growing MenB outbreak to date in Kent this spring, two further "unusual" clusters in Weymouth in Dorset and Reading in Berkshire, as well as isolated cases throughout the UK.

Before Monday, the MenB vaccine - the only protection against the bacteria, which makes up 82.6% of the meningitis cases in the UK - was only available on the NHS for young children, as they were seen as the most at risk.

Teenagers and young adults aged between 15 and 25 are the second most at-risk group, particularly those who live in close proximity residential settings such as university halls.

The new two-dose vaccine will be for pupils in Year 13, in England and Wales, Year 14 in Northern Ireland and S6 in Scotland, as well as those aged 18 to 25 going to university or residential further education for the first time in the autumn.

Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of Stroud-based charity Meningitis Now in Gloucestershire, said: "We'd really encourage youngsters out there that if you're eligible for this vaccine, make sure you get it over the summer."

Michelle, who has been raising awareness and campaigning for greater access to MenB vaccination since Ryan's death, said he was "fantastic".

"I'm his mum, of course I'm going to say that. But he really was," she said.

"He was funny, kind, talented, [a] fantastic sportsman.

"People who met Ryan always remembered him, [he] always liked to be a bit of a joker, loved banter, but underneath that there was a very kind, caring soul.

"I'm truly hoping the value of the free, new MenB vaccination programme is recognised.

"And those who are eligible book in their two doses as required before they start university in September which will make them as protected as possible against meningitis. It's such a horrible disease."

Symptoms include a severe headache, high temperature and a rash.

Meningitis B bacteria spreads through close contact - for example through kissing, sharing vapes and drinks or living in close quarters with a person with the bug.

Dr Nutt added: "It'll kill one in 10 people affected, and it can often kill within 24 hours or less.

He said it was "a great step" that there was a UK-wide programme to protect young adults against MenB.

The rollout comes days after UK government experts recommended all teenagers should be offered a free MenB vaccination at about the age of 15 routinely.

Bookings can be made at pharmacies across England, with the first appointments available from Monday.

Seventeen and 18 year olds can book via the NHS National Booking Service if they are already registered with a GP.

Other students under the age of 25 who are heading to a residential college or university this autumn for the first time can also contact a participating pharmacy.

You can get a walk-in MenB vaccine at a pharmacy if you were born on or after 21 July 2001, and for the first time this autumn you are:

• Starting university
• Starting at a further education college as a residential student

To find out more about to get the jab, click here.

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