Men B survivor welcomes jabs for young people

A woman who was left fighting for her life while at university after contracting meningitis B has welcomed a one-off vaccine for young people.

The programme has been launched after concerns over the UK's largest and fastest growing meningitis B outbreak to date in Kent this year.

Sophia Spears, 22, from Harpenden, Hertfordshire contracted the virus aged 19 and urged those eligible "not to hesitate" in getting vaccinated, saying "it could save your life".

One pharmacist told the BBC that community pharmacies, expected to provide the vaccines, had been given no information about it.

The 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 18-25 heading to university or residential further education for the first time in the autumn.

Spears told the BBC that while the roll-out was "amazing" she would like to see it offered to more young people and not just those going to university.

"It's really important that all young people are vaccinated, but overall it's a really welcome development, " she said.

The vaccination programme is due to start on 20 July in England, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said.

Spears also urged young people to be aware of the symptoms of the illness, which can include fever, vomiting, a stiff neck and a rash.

"I woke up one morning feeling achy and thought I'll stay in bed and relax, but that very quickly progressed. More and more symptoms kept appearing," she said.

"I would say I knew what meningitis was, but I thought I was completely protected. It would just never have been at the forefront [of my mind] or that there was another strain that my age category aren't protected against.

"If you have the opportunity to get this vaccine you should. You shouldn't be hesitant, because it might save your life."

Harpenden pharmacist Bharat Shah praised the initiative, but criticised the lack of any information given to community pharmacists, who are being asked to carry out the vaccinations.

He said: "It's very good that the government has taken the initiative to vaccinate this cohort of patients, but the bigger issue we had [was] I found out from the news just like everyone else did and have already been inundated with calls.

"It would have bene nice to have had a heads-up."

He said he worried about the availability of the vaccine and how pharmacies would be compensated for their work.

A spokesperson for DHSC said: "The vaccine will be centrally provided to pharmacies and His Majesty's Government will provide that at no cost to the pharmacy."

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