Meningitis B Battle: Vaccinated Child's Rare Case Prompts Calls for Broader Immunisation

Vaccinated Child Battles MenB in Rare Case

Noa-Rose, a now seven-year-old from Blackwood, Caerphilly county, faced a life-threatening battle with meningococcal type B (MenB) meningitis in December 2022, despite having received all three doses of the MenB vaccine. Her parents, Emma and Scott Alderman, recall the harrowing experience of their daughter's critical illness, which saw her spend two weeks on a high dependency ward.

Esme Lee of Meningitis Now described Noa-Rose's situation as "extremely unfortunate" and "very, very rare", highlighting that MenB cases have dropped by 75% in vaccinated infants since the vaccine was introduced in 2015. Emma Alderman firmly believes the vaccine was crucial in her daughter's survival, stating, "if Noa-Rose didn't have the vaccines we wouldn't have her with us now."

Symptoms and Diagnosis Challenges

The Aldermans initially faced diagnostic challenges. Noa-Rose presented with leg pain, a high fever, and a spreading rash, initially leading doctors to suspect scarlet fever or Strep A. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, becoming unresponsive before a lumbar puncture confirmed MenB. This underscores the critical importance of recognising meningitis symptoms, which can progress rapidly.

MenB accounts for the majority of meningococcal disease in the UK, with young babies being at the highest risk. While the vaccine is offered to infants by the NHS, there is a second, smaller peak of the disease in teenagers. Noa-Rose is among the one in five survivors left with life-altering conditions, including epilepsy and developmental delay, significantly impacting her life and that of her family.

Calls for Broader Vaccination

In light of recent outbreaks, including one in Kent, Emma Alderman, now an ambassador for Meningitis Now, is advocating for the MenB vaccine to be extended to teenagers across the UK. Meningitis Now's "No Plan B for MenB" campaign aims for an adolescent booster by 2030 and to make the vaccine more accessible. Both the UK and Welsh governments are awaiting "fresh" advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation regarding potential extensions to the vaccination programme.