Meningitis campaigner vows not to be ignored

PARLIAMENT: Petition is the most signed in history

A meningitis campaigner has vowed to march on Parliament after a petition to expand the provision of a vaccination triggered a debate.

The Petitions Committee agreed to schedule a debate on the matter as the number of signatories to the petition calling for a discussion in parliament soared to more than 810,000, however no date has yet been set.

Alan Glynn, whose 19-month-old daughter Alexis Rose died from the disease in 2011, says he will be there when the issue is brought before MPs.

He said: “It’s disgusting that we still need to fighting for something which should be mandatory for all children under 11.

“It’s a joke – people who are meant to be educated making uneducated decisions and putting children at risk.

“Some people have called meningitis rare but it’s easy to say it’s rare when it’s not affected you.

“I want to go when the debate takes place to show our presence, so the MPs know that the people who are affected are close by and to show that we won’t be ignored.”

Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, said his colleagues should listen to campaigners.

He said: “The petition to give more children access to the meningitis B vaccine has become the most signed petition in parliamentary history and the UK Government must not ignore those who have taken the time to sign it.

“As we have seen, meningitis B can have devastating effects and we must do all that we can to ensure that as many young people as possible can be given access to the vaccine.

“I understand that any decision to extend the vaccine would first have to be recommended to Government, by the independent joint committee on vaccination and immunisation and I hope that they will look favourably on this.”

The petition was launched by Jenny Burdett, from Kent, whose two-year-old daughter Faye died from the disease on Valentine’s Day.

Ms Burdett released harrowing pictures of her child as the disease ravaged her tiny body to raise more awareness.

Picture: Louis Flood. Alan Glynn lost his daughter to meningitis.