Parents demand urgent meningitis vaccine reform after daughter’s death

Helen and Lee Draper are making a public plea for mandatory Meningitis B vaccinations after losing their daughter Megan to the disease in October 2025. The 19-year-old was a first-year student at Bournemouth University when she succumbed to the infection, which health officials later confirmed was caused by Meningitis B—the strain not routinely covered by standard university vaccination programs.

Lee Draper, Megan’s father, described the tragedy as a failure of public health policy. "The vaccine Megan received protected her from other strains, but not B," he said. "We had no idea this gap existed until it was too late." Helen Draper echoed his frustration, demanding immediate government intervention to mandate the Meningitis B vaccine for all university students and teenagers nationwide.

Public health data shows Meningitis B accounts for nearly 40% of all Meningitis cases in the UK, with the highest incidence among adolescents and young adults. Despite this, the vaccine remains optional in most regions, leaving parents to shoulder the responsibility of seeking out the shot—often at a cost of £150 per dose. The Drapers’ campaign has gained traction with student unions and parent advocacy groups, who argue that financial barriers and lack of awareness are costing lives.

The Drapers have met with Members of Parliament from three parties, urging a nationwide review of vaccination policies. Their efforts have highlighted a stark disparity: Scotland, which mandates the Meningitis B vaccine for all teenagers, reports a coverage rate of 89%, compared to just 48% in Northern Ireland, where no formal policy exists. "If one region can do it, why can’t the rest?" Lee Draper asked during a recent interview.

Public Health England has acknowledged the gap but cited budget constraints as a limiting factor. "We are exploring ways to increase uptake, including targeted campaigns and potential policy adjustments," a spokesperson said. Meanwhile, the Drapers have launched a petition calling for the vaccine to be added to the national childhood immunization schedule, which they argue would eliminate cost barriers and ensure universal protection. The petition has garnered over 120,000 signatures in under two weeks.

The Drapers’ campaign is now being supported by the Meningitis Research Foundation, which has called for a "urgent parliamentary inquiry" into the disparity in vaccination policies. "This is not about politics; it’s about saving lives," said a foundation spokesperson. "Every day we delay, more families face the same heartbreak as the Drapers."