Mum backs new jab for meningitis
22.01.10
THE mum of a little boy who was forced to undergo a series of amputations after he contracted meningitis as a baby has welcomed news of a new vaccine against one of the most deadly strains of the disease.
Lisa Chappell said the announcement from the Department of Health that the vaccine is to be introduced this spring was "wonderful".
It will protect against more of the different types of the pneumococcal strain of the disease.
Her son Harvey Phillips, now aged five, was left fighting for his life when the disease struck when he was just 10 months old.
Surgeons at Sheffield Children's Hospital were forced to amputate his lower legs, right arm and the fingers on his left hand to save his life.
Although Harvey suffered the meningcoccal strain of the disease - for which there is currently no vaccine - Lisa said the news was extremely important.
The mum, formerly of Parson Cross in Sheffield, but now living in Louth, Lincolnshire, said: "I think it's brilliant news. Any vaccine that can prevent, or try to prevent, a child getting meningitis is wonderful.
"Whichever form it takes it can have horrific consequences. I am lucky really - though there's some that would say I'm not. Yes, Harvey had to have his limbs amputated, but you can suffer brain damage, blindness, deafness, and even death.
"Anything that can prevent this has got to be good. You always think it's not going to happen to you, but in fact it can happen to anyone, and it can happen so quickly.
"Time is really important and you have got to be vigilant - go with your instincts if you think something is wrong."
Lisa added: "I just can't wait for them to come up with a vaccine for what Harvey had."
The new jab will follow the same three-dose schedule currently used for children - with injections at two months, four months and 13 months.
Although pneumococcal meningitis is less common than meningococcal meningitis, it is much more life-threatening.
One in six children who contract the strain will die, and half those who survive will be left with disabilities such as deafness, brain damage and seizures.
The Meningitis UK charity welcomed the news as "another landmark on the road to eradicating meningitis" - but added it was still important to be aware of symptoms.
Young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of contracting pneumococcal disease.
And while the new vaccine will protect against the majority of disease-causing strains, there are more than 90 known types and people of all ages are still at risk.
Chief executive Steve Dayman, who lost his own son to meningitis, said: "The cold weather means people's immune systems are weakened, and there's a tendency to stay inside more which encourages germs to spread.
"This, coupled with possible lack of sleep, stress, poor diet and the spread of swine flu, means the winter months are a key time for people to be alert."
Bookmark this article: 
MeningitisUK · Registered Charity No.1076774
Leave a Comment
Required fields are marked with *