WHEN Livia Wilson came home from a festival with a bad headache, her mum put it down to a weekend of overdoing it.
The 19-year-old waitress from York popped some paracetamol and put herself to bed, in an attempt to sleep it off.
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But tragically Livia would never wake up.
Tests would later reveal she passed away after contracting meningitis B, a bacterial illness which causes the brain to swell.
Livia’s mum, Alison Goude, 48, is now calling on the NHS to roll out an existing lifesaving vaccine for teens to protect against the deadly bug.
In the UK and Ireland babies are offered Bexsero, the meningococcal group B vaccine, as part of the routine immunisation schedule at two, four and twelve months of age.
But the NHS doesn’t currently offer it to anyone born before 2015.
“To know there is this vaccination out there, it hurts. You beat yourself up, like what could I have done to protect her?” she said.
The youngster had just returned from Parklife, a festival in Manchester in June 2022.
But a few days after returning from the weekend event, she complained of a headache.
Alison, an assistant accountant, said she just thought Livia had “overdone it”.
However, the evening of June 15 would sadly be the final time she would see her daughter alive.
Alison said: “She came back after the weekend, and she was straight back into work.
“She was working usual restaurant hours until late at night.
“She’d got herself to work, she’d drove. But she was sent home that day as she felt unwell.”
“She did say it was the ‘worst headache’ she’d ever had but she would do a Covid test in the morning because she felt generally unwell.
“She had paracetamol, went to bed, and that was it.
“[The next day] an ambulance came and then the police came because they treat it as suspicious because there’s no explanation.”
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Meningitis B is usually transmitted to an individual via the mucus or saliva of a person who is carrying the virus but has no symptoms.
This can come, for example, from sharing drinks, food, utensils or toothbrushes.
Heartbroken Alison said it was extremely tough to learn how her sociable daughter who “loved life” had passed away so suddenly.
She went on: “It took a long time to find out what caused it, and we asked, ‘Was she suffering, was she in pain?’ and they tried to explain that it’s just so fast with the brain.
“It just shuts your main organs down… She was alone. You just didn’t ever expect it.”
Alison is now urging parents to consider getting their children vaccinated against meningococcal type B meningitis, even though it can cost £220 if done privately.
MenB is a rare, but terrible disease and this is yet another devastating reminder of how serious it can be. Our thoughts are with Livia Wilson’s family
Dr Andrew Lee,
She felt it was particularly important for teens who may be at more risk of contracting the disease due to their close contact at places like festivals.
She said: “Just please get it, protect them and don’t be in the position that we are. We just don’t want anybody to have to go through what we are.
“And we have to try and carry on. Your life is never the same.
“If I couldn’t afford it, I’d give up anything to be able to protect my child. And I don’t think it’s out there that vaccination is there and the children haven’t got it at 15.
“People think they’ve had it, but it’s a different strain of meningitis.”
Who can get the MenB jab?
Meningitis B vaccines, specifically Bexsero (the most common MenB vaccine), are primarily given to infants, children, and those at higher risk.
Children are offered three doses of the MenB vaccine as part of the NHS vaccination schedule.
They’re offered the vaccine with other routine vaccines at:
- 8 weeks old
- 16 weeks old
- 1 year old
It’s best to have the MenB vaccines on time so children are protected when they’re most at risk of getting MenB illnesses.
But if your child has missed any of their MenB vaccines, contact their GP surgery.
They can still have the MenB vaccine up to the age of 2.
MenB vaccines can also be purchased privately in the UK and Ireland, so people who are not currently eligible on the NHS can get vaccinated if they pay for it.
Not rolled out to teens
Dr Andrew Lee, Regional Deputy Director of The UK Health Security Agency, Yorkshire & the Humber, said his thoughts were with Livia’s family.
However, he said the government was not currently considering rolling out a MenB vaccine for teens.
He said: “MenB is a rare, but terrible disease and this is yet another devastating reminder of how serious it can be.
“Our thoughts are with Livia Wilson’s family.
“Based on expert advice from the independent Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the Government decide which groups are eligible for free NHS vaccines.
“National surveillance data shows a much higher incidence of group B meningococcal disease in infants compared to teenagers.
“Unlike the Men ACWY vaccine, MenB vaccine has been shown to not affect the carriage and will therefore, not provide population (herd) protection.
“As with all vaccine programmes, the JCVI will keep the programme under constant review.
“Early recognition of meningitis and septicaemia symptoms, which can include a fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting and cold hands and feet, can greatly improve the outcome of the disease and so anyone concerned about any of these symptoms, at any time, should contact their GP immediately or call NHS 111.”
Know the signs
Brian Davies, Head of Health Insights and Policy at Meningitis Research Foundation, said: “Meningococcal Group B infection has, for decades, been the largest cause of life-threatening meningitis in the UK.
“Introducing a vaccine for babies in 2015 was a major step forward but teenagers are a high-risk age group too and we would like to see this age group protected.
“Alongside this, it’s also important to know that meningitis vaccines offer protection against the different types of bacteria that cause meningitis but that there is currently no one single vaccine that protects against them all.
“That is why it’s also vital to be aware of the symptoms of meningitis, so you can spot these and know when to seek urgent medical attention.”
Know the signs of meningitis and septicaemia
Meningitis is inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord – the meninges.
Septicaemia is blood poisoning caused by the same germs as meningitis and is life-threatening. It can occur with or without meningitis.
Both meningitis and septicaemia can kill in hours, so it is critical to know the symptoms so you can act fast.
Symptoms can appear in any order and not all of them show. For example, the meningitis rash does not always appear.
It can be hard to tell meningitis/septicaemia apart from other common bugs.
The symptoms marked with a * indicate those that are more specific to meningitis/septicaemia and are rarer with common bugs.
Symptoms of both septicaemia and meningitis
- Fever and/or vomiting
- Very sleepy, vacant or difficult to wake
- Confused/delirious*
- A rash, which can be anywhere on the body*
Additional symptoms of meningitis
- Severe headache
- Seizures
- Dislike of bright lights
- Stiff neck*
Additional symptoms of septicaemia
- Breathing fast/breathlessness
- Pale or mottled skin
- Limb/muscle/joint pain, which may come with stomach pain or diarrhoea *
- Cold hands, feet or shivering*
Source: Meningitis Research Foundation
