The mother of a student who nearly died from meningitis B has urged young people to accept the vaccination offer. Gaynor Simpson's son Ross, then 18, fell critically ill with the disease in 2023 during his first year at the University of Glasgow. He spent five days on life support at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, and his family was warned he might not survive. Ross eventually recovered, but his mother now stresses the importance of vaccination.
Vaccination programme announced after outbreaks
The MenB vaccine, which protects against meningitis and sepsis caused by meningococcal group B bacteria, is now being offered to young people in clinics across Scotland. The programme was announced by UK authorities last month following a series of recent meningitis outbreaks, the most serious of which occurred in Kent, England, leaving two teenagers dead.
Mrs Simpson, from the Glasgow area, said: "Ross became critically unwell after just feeling a bit under the weather. It quickly escalated into a situation where it was unclear whether or not he would survive. To see your healthy, thriving 18-year-old child go from feeling a bit off colour to fighting for his life in ICU within the space of a few hours is a feeling that we, as parents, will never forget."
Long road to recovery
She added: "We are immensely grateful that despite the severity of the infection, he is still with us. It is a very long road to recovery from meningococcal disease and as we have seen from recent outbreaks in the UK, others are not so lucky. It is a cruel and unforgiving disease that takes effect at terrifying speed."
Describing her son's experience to the Press Association earlier this year, Mrs Simpson said: "He was on life support for five days. The first three of those days were the days where we just we didn't know. We were told it's very possible that he will not make this, he was that ill. He did pull through, he started to turn the corner thankfully, and he was in intensive care in total for 10 days, and then came home to start the long road to recovery."
Eligibility and dosage
In Scotland, the MenB vaccine is offered to young people born between 1 March 2008 and 28 February 2009, and any others who were in S6 during the 2025-26 academic year, regardless of future education plans. It is also offered to undergraduate university entrants under 25 starting for the first time in the 2026-27 academic year, including international students, and to college entrants under 25 starting for the first time in the 2026-27 academic year while living away from home in shared student accommodation, including international students.
Authorities stress it is essential to receive two doses of the MenB vaccine, at least 28 days apart, for full protection. Both doses should ideally be completed before starting college or university.
Public Health Scotland urges uptake
Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, head of vaccination and immunisation at Public Health Scotland, said: "Immunisation is the most effective way of preventing illness from meningococcal disease. The roll out of the MenB vaccination programme is an opportunity for all eligible young people to receive vital protection from such a serious and life-threatening disease. We encourage all those who are eligible to take up the offer, and to ensure both doses are received for full protection."
Mrs Simpson added: "Given our experience, I can't stress enough to young people and to their parents how important it is to take up the full two-dose offer of the MenB vaccine. It could save your child's life."
The vaccine is also being offered to young people in other parts of the UK. The MenB vaccine was introduced on the NHS for babies in 2015, but children born before then have not been vaccinated on the health service. Teenagers in school are currently offered the MenACWY vaccine, a single dose jab that protects against four strains of meningococcal bacteria, also introduced in 2015.
