Sheppey mum calls for free meningitis B vaccine after two die in outbreak

A mum from Kent whose son died from meningitis almost three years ago has called for a vaccine to be made widely available following a recent outbreak in which two people have died. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that four of the 15 confirmed cases in the county are meningitis B (MenB), for which a vaccine is not currently given to all age groups. Sue Gray, from Sheppey, has been campaigning for better preventative care since her 21-year-old son Matthew died in April 2023. "I don't want anyone else to lose their life to something which I know can be prevented...my heart does go out to those parents [who have lost children]," she said. Health secretary Wes Streeting confirmed that a vaccination programme would begin in the coming days for students living in halls at the University of Kent, while general eligibility for the MenB vaccine would be re-examined. Routine MenB vaccination was rolled out in 2015, meaning older teens have not had the jab. High street pharmacies offer a full course of two doses for around £220. Gray, whose younger son Zak survived after contracting meningitis last year, said a widely available vaccination was "vital". "Why is it important to the g