The tragic loss of Meg Draper, an 18-year-old university student from Pontypool, Torfaen, has highlighted a pressing concern for thousands of young people across the UK: the need for broader vaccination against meningitis B (MenB). Just weeks after starting her studies at the University of Bournemouth, Meg sadly died from MenB in October 2025. Her parents' heartbreaking plea comes on the back of new guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which now recommends that a free MenB jab should be offered to young people aged 15 and above.
Meg had been vaccinated against meningitis strains A, C, W, and Y at age 14 as part of her routine NHS vaccinations. However, she did not receive the MenB vaccine, which is currently only routinely offered to children born after 2015 in Wales. The JCVI's updated advice is a significant shift from previous recommendations that deemed MenB vaccination not cost-effective for older teenagers and young adults.
Meningitis B is a serious infection causing inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. University students are particularly vulnerable to the disease due to their close living arrangements, which facilitate the spread of bacteria through airborne droplets from coughing and sneezing. The disease can progress rapidly, potentially becoming life-threatening within hours, and may also lead to severe long-term complications such as amputations, deafness, and cognitive impairments.
Helen Draper, Meg's mother, expressed her satisfaction with the suggestion of a 'catch-up programme' for young people who have not previously been vaccinated. However, she stressed that decisive action from governments is essential to prevent further tragedy: 'A swift decision could save countless young lives and spare other families the anguish we've endured.'
Both the UK government's Department of Health and Social Care and the Welsh government have acknowledged the new JCVI advice. While they have not committed to implementing a wider MenB programme, their responses indicate that they will consider the guidance in the coming weeks.
The decision on funding and implementation rests with ministers in each UK nation. The Drapers' tragic loss serves as a poignant reminder of the need for effective vaccination policies that protect young people from this devastating disease.