Meningitis B vaccine subsidy call by amputee

A woman who had all her limbs amputated due to meningitis B has called for vaccines to be subsidised by the government so people can be more protected against the strain.

Currently, the NHS and Jersey's Public Health department offers free meningitis ACWY (MenACWY) to those under 25 going to university, but not meningitis B (MenB). It can cost more than £200 if people go through GPs for treatment.

Lily McGarry, 24, had the infection at university earlier in 2025 and said: "I don't want what happened to me to happen to anyone else".

Prof Peter Bradley, from Public Health Jersey, said "it's an incredibly moving case" but "at the moment this is not the best candidate for a vaccination programme".

People in Jersey would have to pay for vaccinations as an adult by going to their GP.

A jab costs between £100-£110, and two jabs are required to be fully vaccinated.

Ms McGarry said: "If those who are struggling to afford the £200 required, then I think if the Jersey government could help towards this in some way then it would be really worthwhile."

She suggested the government could "introduce new policies around a catch-up programme for those who've missed out on the meningitis B vaccine".

Ms McGarry has been recovering in Wales, where she has been studying, and has travelled back to Jersey to be at home for Christmas with friends and family.

The UK's NHS offers the MenB vaccine to young babies.

Jersey offers the MenB vaccinations for babies at eight weeks, 12 weeks and a year old.

It then offers MenACWY vaccinations for 14-year-olds in Year 9. Those under 25 are encouraged to make sure they have had the vaccination before going to university, but they were not offered the MenB vaccination, health bosses said.

Prof Bradley said "there's always exceptions" and "if anybody's concerned about the MenB vaccine, particularly if they have other clinical problems, if they talk to their GP there is a possibility to get an individual vaccination privately".

He added: "The disease is so rare it's not the one that we would focus on and there are many other vaccinations which will have a greater benefit."

Dr Tom Nutt, from UK charity Meningitis Now, called for MenB vaccinations to be made free in Jersey and on the NHS.

He said the condition was "relatively rare" but "when it strikes, it can kill as many as one in 10 people affected, and it can kill within 24 hours".

"When people like Lily come forward and are prepared to speak about their own experience, that's really powerful because the more people that know about vaccines, the more people that know about the risks, well, that has to be a good thing," Dr Nutt added.

Meningitis symptoms include:

• A high temperature (fever)
• Being sick
• A headache
• A rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
• A stiff neck
• A dislike of bright lights
• Drowsiness or unresponsiveness
• Seizures (fits)

Source: NHS

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