There has been an onslaught of devastating meningitis stories involving children over the past fortnight or so, but it seems this is definitely having the desired effect.
Following the news that the petition to make the Meningitis B (Men B) vaccine available to all children under 11 has become ‘the biggest’ in parliamentary history, politicians have given the biggest sign yet that they will honour the desire of so many parents all around the country.
As the petition hit over 770,000 signatures, MPs today agreed to hold a debate on whether or not to make the Men B vaccine mandatory for children under the age of 11. Currently, the vaccine is only administered to babies under one-year-old, although it is available privately to older children.
The petition has garnered plenty of attention and support, over the past week in particular, with the shocking and devastating stories of Faye Burdett and Sam Dawson – the son of English rugby star Matt – making headlines.
Commenting on the reaction to the petition so far, Lee Booth – who first voiced the calls for change – said he was ‘speechless’.
Let’s hope this is a sign of progress in the right direction.
