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Supporters hear how the fight against meningitis is gaining momentum

05.04.11

A BRAVE mum gave an impassioned talk as people from across the country gathered in the South West to hear about the latest advances in the fight against meningitis.

Sarah Johnson, who lost her three-year-old son Ryan to the devastating disease a year ago, spoke to a delegation of Meningitis UK supporters in Falfield, South Gloucestershire, at the charity's annual Friends' Day.

She recalled how Ryan had been happily playing the day before they rushed him to Bristol Children's Hospital, where he sadly died on April 13.

Sarah, 43 from Bristol, said: "I work at a nursery so was well aware of the symptoms of meningitis but not of how quickly and rapidly it takes hold.

"When we got him to hospital a rash covered his body within 30 minutes.

"We knew he faced the possibility of limb loss and that it had affected his brain. We had to make the decision to say our goodbyes."

Since the family's heartbreaking loss last year, they have raised a fantastic £30,000 for Meningitis UK and its vaccine research work.

Sarah, who works for Stepping Stones nursery in Speedwell, said: "We said we would do what we could and Meningitis UK has been nothing but supportive.

"If we can do as much as we can to raise awareness and raise the funds for a vaccine then we will have played our part in beating this disease and help to save people in the future."

Delegates were also given an update on the latest news from experts in the field of meningitis vaccine research, following on from the charity's Vaccine Forum the previous day which attracted people from as far afield as Boston.

Dr. Ray Borrow, head of the Vaccine Evaluation Unit at the Health Protection Agency, said this is an exciting time in the battle to beat meningitis.

A vaccine for the most common strain – Meningitis B – is now on the horizon after pharmaceutical company Novartis filed for an EU license to market a vaccine called Bexsero.

Dr Borrow said: "If approved, Bexsero will be the first broad-coverage Meningitis B vaccine.

"There are lots of other exciting vaccine candidates too and I think it's absolutely crucial that this approach continues because until we've got a vaccine in use we will not know how good the results will be."

Dr Stephen Robinson, senior scientific officer at the Department of Health, spoke about the Department's ongoing challenge to make parents aware of the vaccination programme while also making sure they're alert to the risk posed by both meningitis and septicaemia.

He said: "Parents fear meningitis the most out of all diseases. Vaccination programmes have successfully reduced cases of meningitis and we look to a future where we are able to reduce cases even further."

Other subjects debated included the need for a vaccine to protect newborns against Group B Streptococcal (GBS), which can lead to meningitis and affects one in 300 babies.

Meningitis still kills more under-fives than any other infectious disease despite existing vaccines for Hib, meningitis C and pneumococcal meningitis.

Meningitis UK's Chief Executive Steve Dayman, who lost his son Spencer to the disease in 1982, said: "News from the Vaccine Forum was very encouraging, giving us renewed hope for the future.

"It was a great arena for experts to share their knowledge and show just how much work is going on to beat this deadly disease.

"The Friends' Day, although very emotional, was a good opportunity for all our dedicated supporters to come together.

"It was great to be able to let them know about the promising research their money has enabled us to fund and the progress being made.

"Many of our supporters have sadly experienced the devastation of the disease and meeting those who have gone that extra mile to support the charity really means a lot to everyone at Meningitis UK."

Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign aims to raise £7million to help fund cutting-edge research to find a vaccine for all forms of meningitis.

For more information about Meningitis UK, or to support the charity's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, call 0117 373 7373 or visit www.meningitisUK.org.