Our daughter died of MenB - we fear outbreaks without wider vaccine rollout

The parents of a student who died from Meningitis B (MenB) say they fear another outbreak like Kent could happen without a wider rollout of the MenB vaccine.

Helen and Lee Draper's 18-year-old daughter Meg died from MenB while studying at the University of Bournemouth in October 2025.

Meg had been vaccinated against meningitis strains A, C, W and Y when she was 14 through the NHS vaccination schedule but not MenB, as this is only offered to young children born after 2015.

Meg's death came months before an "unprecedented" outbreak of MenB in Kent, which resulted in the deaths of two young people.

The UK government subsequently asked the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to "reexamine eligibility for meningitis vaccines" for teenagers and young adults.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it was important for parents to be aware that neither the MenB vaccine for infants, nor the MenACWY vaccine for teenagers, protected against all meningococcal strains or against all of the infections that can cause meningitis.

Meg, a popular and sporty teenager, was enjoying the social side of student life.

But one evening she told her parents that she was feeling lethargic.

Within 24 hours, Meg's symptoms - including a fever, headache, vomiting and a rash - had worsened.

She was taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital A&E by a friend, but when they arrived Helen and Lee said a triage nurse "selected no" on a computer when asked about sepsis and Meg was sent back to her university accommodation.

Helen and Lee drove from south Wales to Bournemouth to take Meg back to A&E.

"Immediately, it was as if we were wasting this doctor's time and he was quite curt with Meg," Helen said.

"When she was confused and couldn't remember her date of birth he was really frustrated. He asked her three times what her date of birth was, and he looked at me and I had to answer."

She said the doctor told them it was "nothing sinister", and she should return home and rest.

Helen said: "I wish I asked for a second opinion. It's a difficult thing.

"You trust doctors, you do because they're medically trained and you're not.

"You live through that every day, if only I asked for a second opinion, the outcome could have been different."

Helen and Lee decided to take Meg back to Wales but on the way, her symptoms became more serious and she was admitted to Southmead Hospital, in Bristol, where she died.

A spokesperson for the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust said: "Our thoughts continue to be with Megan's family.

"However, as we are still awaiting the inquest into Megan's death, we are unable to comment further at this time."

A vaccine for meningitis strains A,C, W and Y (MenACWY) is offered to teenagers in England and Wales for free.

The MenB vaccine is only available on the NHS in England and Wales for young children born after May 2015, as they are seen as the most at risk.

For older children or adults, a MenB vaccine or booster costs about £220 privately.

⁠While MenB is described as "rare" in those over four, there is a second, less common peak in teenagers.

The JCVI, a scientific advisory committee that advises both the UK and Welsh government on vaccinations, concluded in 2014 that vaccinating teenagers and young adults against MenB was "not cost effective".

Helen and Lee said they feared "another outbreak like Kent could happen again" if the MenB vaccine was not made available to 15-24-year-olds on the NHS.

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he asked the JCVI to revisit its decision and offer "fresh advice" following the Kent outbreak, adding he would follow that advice.

The JCVI keeps all vaccine programmes under review as new evidence and data emerges.

In the weeks after Meg died from MenB, the University of Bournemouth's on-campus GP held three meningitis vaccination clinics.

But the vaccines they offered to students were for the MenACWY strains, not MenB.

"Nothing was told to parents or students that Meg died from MenB and this vaccination wouldn't protect them [from MenB]," said Helen.

"It's quite dangerous in a way, that misinformation and misguidance. Those students would have naturally thought they were going to be OK and go about their day as normal."

The University of Bournemouth said its on-campus NHS medical centre was not able to provide the MenB vaccine but added that MenACWY was a life-saving vaccination.

"We advise all our students when they join how they can get vaccinated against strains of meningitis and other contagious diseases and send them reminders throughout the year. This now includes information on MenB to ensure students are clear," a spokesman said.

"Our health advice to students makes it clear that they need to seek medical help immediately if they show any symptoms of meningitis, even if they have had a vaccination," they added.

"Mr and Mrs Draper are still in our thoughts and we wish them well with their campaign to raise awareness of MenB."

The UKHSA said the MenB vaccine was not offered to students in Bournemouth as Meg's death was a "single meningitis case", adding that it fully complied with its own guidance.

It said Meg's close contacts were offered antibiotics.

Lee said he felt a similar "confusion" was apparent during the recent Kent outbreak, which resulted in the deaths of a 21-year-old University of Kent student and Juliette, a sixth form pupil at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham.

"You could see how much confusion there was from the outset, not just from parents and students but also in the wider media," said Lee.

"That confusion stems from the overall lack of information and guidance on MenB that's gone back for years.

"The decision to not vaccinate against MenB was made a decade ago. Even now, I know a lot of websites are being updated, but if you look around the amount of information and how clear that is is still incredibly poor."

"Lessons do need to be learned," added Helen.

Helen and Lee said it was a "fatally flawed position" to rely on people knowing signs and symptoms, adding the "onus shouldn't be on bereaved parents" to raise awareness about MenB.

The UKHSA said leaflets to all parents and students were "very clear that MenACWY does not protect against MenB", adding that its leaflet about the MenACWY vaccine also made clear that it "will not protect you against all forms of meningococcal disease, like MenB, and so it is still important to be aware of signs and symptoms".

It said its rolling daily communications on the Kent outbreak were also "very clear from the outset".

Dr Mary Ramsay, Deputy Director of Public Health Programmes at UKHSA said: "We were saddened to hear of the death of this young woman.

For all parents, it's important to know that neither the MenB vaccine for infants or MenACWY vaccine for teenagers, both introduced in 2015, protect against all meningococcal strains nor against all infections that can cause meningitis.

"That is why it is so important that everyone knows the symptoms to look out for as early treatment can be life-saving.

"Parents of children born before May 2015 should be aware that their child will not have been routinely offered the MenB vaccine and are encouraged to speak to their GP for advice."

The Welsh government said: "We take advice about vaccine programmes from the JCVI. The JCVI has been asked to reexamine eligibility for meningitis vaccines in light of the recent outbreak in Kent.

"Following the Kent outbreak, resources and information have been shared with higher education institutions and healthcare professionals to ensure they look for the signs of meningitis and know what to do in response."

A Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: "Ministers should look at extending MenB vaccine access to older teenagers and university students, given the current outbreak in Kent."

Plaid Cymru said Wales must be "aware and alert" to public health threats and urged the government and NHS to adapt quickly and act on scientific evidence.

A Welsh Conservatives spokesperson said: "If the expert medical advice is clear that extending the MenB vaccine to teenagers would prevent serious illness and deaths, then the Welsh government should not hesitate to act.

"We would expect ministers to follow that advice, work with the NHS to deliver it swiftly and ensure that no family is left facing a preventable tragedy."

Reform and Wales Green Party have been asked to comment.