A BOY who died of meningitis after his first day at school, missed out on a potentially life-saving vaccine, his heartbroken family has revealed.
Alfie, whose surname was not release at the request of his parents, died at Bristol Children’s Hospital on September 23 – 12 days after first falling ill.
The youngster was born 17 months before the Government introduced a routine vaccination for the deadly meningitis B infection in September 2015.
It meant Alfie missed out on getting the jab.
His heartbroken parents said they didn’t know they could have paid to have their only child vaccinated privately – at a cost of just £220 – and are now calling on all parents to protect their little ones.
Meningitis B is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia, which killed Alfie.
Alfie was born in February 2014. At that time newborns were not offered the Men B jab on the NHS.
It wasn’t until September 2015 that it became routine to give kids up to the age of one the potentially life-saving vaccine as part of the childhood immunisation programme.
Alfie’s auntie Dani Lowther, said her nephew had all his routine jabs as a toddler, but missed out on the Men B vaccine.
Dani, who set up a JustGiving page to raise £8,000 for Alfie’s funeral, said: “It’s devastating to learn that something could have been done to save his life.
“It makes his death even more cruel and needless. It makes it more painful, not knowing about it and learning about it afterwards.
“His parents did everything in their power to keep him healthy.
“Learning that there is a vaccination that makes it harder to accept.
“I know his parents would have taken any option to protect him.”
MORE THAN A RASH The signs and symptoms of meningitis EVERY parent needs to know
Alfie fell ill on his first day at school, which his family said he loved.
Releasing a photo of him in his school uniform with his tongue poking out, his family said: “The picture was taken on the day he got ill.
“It was his first day at school, and when he came home he told his mummy he enjoyed it so much he couldn’t wait to go back again.”
But, Alfie never made it back to school.
His auntie Dani, told the Plymouth Herald: “That evening he came home from school and he seemed to be feeling a little under the weather.
“He was a little bit sniffly so when he went to bed his parents gave him some Calpol, as anyone would.
“He sick in the night and was a bit sleepy.”
On September 11, he woke up covered in a purple rash – and his parents dialled 999 straight away.
His parents, who didn’t wish to be named, rushed him to his Derriford Hospital, in Plymouth where he went into cardiac arrest and was resuscitated twice.
Alfie was transferred to Bristol Children’s ICU where his family were told he had meningococcal septicaemia.
What is meningitis?
It can be mistaken as the flu or even a hangover – but knowing the symptoms of potentially deadly meningitis could save your life.
It is the inflammation of the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord and can be caused by meningococcal bacteria and viral meningitis.
If it is not treated quickly, meningitis can cause life-threatening septicaemia (blood poisoning) and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.
The two forms of the disease have different symptoms.
Around 3,200 people a year get bacterial meningitis. One in 10 die and many more are left with life-changing disabilities.
Viral forms of meningitis are less common and rarely life-threatening, but can have lifelong effects.
Infections peak during winter when bugs spread more easily in confined spaces.
Meningitis is usually passed on from people who carry the virus or bacterial form in their throat or nose, but aren’t ill themselves.
It can be spread through kissing, sneezing, coughing and sharing household items such as toothbrushes or cutlery.
It is thought that the bacteria are able to invade the body more easily via the nose and throat during winter due to recent infection with flu virus.
The illness can be caught from someone who is ill with meningitis but this is more rare.
The symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and include:
- A high fever over 37.5 degrees – the average human temperature
- being sick
- a headache
- a blotchy rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it
- stiffness, especially in the neck
- sensitivity to bright lights
- drowsiness, irritability or lack of energy
- cold hands and feet
- seizures
His auntie Dani wrote on JustGiving: “Alfie fought so bravely against this devastating illness, but on September 20 his parents were told there was nothing more the doctors could do for him.
“His organs were shutting down, and his arms, legs and face had been irreparably damaged.
“On the morning of September 23, Alfie was taken off of life support.
“He passed away peacefully at 12.34pm after his mummy and daddy were able to cuddle him for the first time since he’d been taken to hospital 12 days earlier.
“Alfie never got to have his second day at school, but we hope that his story will help raise awareness of the heartbreaking impact that meningitis and septicaemia can have.”
They went on to describe Alfie as “a beautiful, sweet, happy little four year old boy who loves Paw Patrol, Disney movies and playing with trucks”.
The Men B vaccine protects toddler’s against meningococcal group B bacteria, which are responsible for more than 90 per cent of meningitis infections in young children.
England was the first country in the world to offer a national, routine and publicly-funded Men B vaccination programme, but it wasn’t introduced until September 2015.
For kids over the age of three, the vaccine can be offered privately costing parents £220.
Tony Neve, chairman of the charity Meningitis Help, urged all parents to ensure their kids are protected against the deadly bacteria.
And he urged parents of children like Alfie who missed out on the NHS vaccination, to pay for the jab privately.
MORE ON MENINGITIS
He said: “The vaccination is still available and parents should pay for it if their child hasn’t had it already.
“We urge that all children should be vaccinated.
“We have lobbied in Parliament to see the vaccine offered across the whole child age spectrum.
“Our advice is just to buy it.”
Student, 18, diagnosed with meningitis after her eagle-eyed gran spotted her rash in FaceTime call.
Woman, 23, just 30 minutes from death after ’bout of flu turns out to be deadly meningitis.
https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/boy-4-who-died-of-meningitis-after-first-day-at-school-missed-out-on-life-saving-jab-by-17-months/
News Pictures Boy, 4, who died of meningitis after first day at school missed out on ‘life-saving’ jab by 17 months
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