Family of Teen Meningitis Victim Demands Urgent Vaccine Access Reform
The father of an 18-year-old girl who died following a meningitis outbreak in Kent has described his family's devastation as "immeasurable" while calling for better protection for young people through improved vaccination access.
Tragic Timeline of Juliette Kenny's Illness
Juliette Kenny died on Saturday, March 14, just one day after first showing symptoms that included vomiting and discolouration in her cheeks. Her father, Michael Kenny, revealed that his daughter had been "fit, healthy and strong" before her sudden illness, having completed her PE A-level practical assessment just two days earlier on Thursday, March 12.
Mr Kenny first became aware his daughter was ill when she vomited in the early hours of Friday, March 13. Juliette, a year 13 student at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham, exhibited no other symptoms at that time. "In the morning on Friday, she was taken, by us, to our local emergency drop-in as a discolouration appeared on her cheeks," Mr Kenny explained.
"She was given antibiotics and sent by ambulance to A&E. Juliette fought bravely for hours, but despite the fantastic NHS hospital staff fighting alongside her, meningitis took her from us less than 12 hours later. We were with her at the end, and the last sounds that she heard were the voices of those who loved her telling her how very much loved and cherished she is."
Family's Heartbreaking Tribute and Call to Action
In a statement to the Press Association, Mr Kenny paid tribute to his daughter, describing her as having a "beautifully positive energy" that spread "fun, love and happiness" to those around her. "The devastation of her loss to us, her family and friends is immeasurable," he said. "Sharing stories of the empathy, warmth and fun that she created is helping her family and friends through at this time."
Juliette is one of two students who have died following the meningitis B outbreak in Kent. Mr Kenny emphasized that "no family should experience this pain and tragedy" and that "this can be avoided." He expressed his desire for his daughter's legacy to be "lasting change" in vaccine access policies.
Along with the Meningitis Research Foundation, the Kenny family is calling for the UK to take urgent action to improve access to the meningitis B vaccination for teenagers and young people. "There are young people currently battling this and young people still at risk," Mr Kenny warned. "The work to protect young people has started. It needs to be more."
Vaccine Access Gap and Official Response
Vinny Smith, chief executive of Meningitis Research Foundation, revealed that in 2015, the charity's calls for the meningitis B vaccination to be "routinely available" on the NHS for all at-risk age groups was "not taken forward" as it was "judged not to be cost-effective." The menB jab was introduced on the NHS for babies in 2015, meaning the majority of young people born before then are not protected against it unless they have had the jab privately.
The Kenny family were not aware that the vaccination is not routinely available on the NHS for teenagers and young adults, and that to receive it they would need to pay privately. Mr Smith called on the Government to "decide now to save lives" and highlighted meningitis B's "lifelong impact," including disabilities caused by the infection.
"Our concern, then and now, is that this has not fully reflected the impact of menB or the full value protection from a vaccine brings," Mr Smith stated. "It hasn't accounted for the severity of meningitis, its lifelong impact, or the trauma and bereavement experienced by families."
Outbreak Statistics and Political Response
The UK Health Security Agency reported that as of 5pm on Wednesday, 15 cases of meningitis have been confirmed with a further 12 under investigation, bringing the total to 27 cases of either confirmed or suspected meningitis. Currently, nine of the 15 confirmed cases are known to be caused by meningitis B.
On Thursday, 40 MPs signed a letter addressed to the Health Secretary calling on the Government and health officials to work with universities across the country on catch-up vaccination programmes and to improve awareness. The letter also urged that the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation review of eligibility for meningitis vaccines should be conducted at pace.
The vaccine programme in Kent has been rolled out to specific groups including anyone who attended the Club Chemistry venue from March 5 to March 15, year 12 and 13 pupils at affected schools, students and staff at the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University, and close contacts of confirmed or suspected cases. However, more than 100 students in Kent were turned away while trying to get a meningitis vaccine after officials closed the queue on Thursday.
Mr Kenny concluded with a powerful message: "Juliette's impact on this world must be lasting change. Now is the time to ensure families are safe from the impact of meningitis B."
