Vaccinated Child Battles Meningitis B in ‘Very Rare’ Case, Prompting Calls for Wider Vaccination
Noa-Rose Alderman, from Blackwood, Caerphilly, endured a critical two-week stay in hospital after contracting meningococcal type B meningitis in December 2022. Her parents described the harrowing experience of seeing their daughter fight for her life, despite her having received all three doses of the MenB vaccine, as per the NHS childhood immunisation schedule.
Esme Lee of the charity Meningitis Now labelled Noa-Rose's case as “extremely unfortunate” and “very, very rare”. Since the vaccine’s introduction in 2015, there has been a significant 75% drop in MenB cases among vaccinated infants. However, Noa-Rose’s mother, Emma, firmly believes that while the vaccine may not entirely prevent infection, it played a crucial role in mitigating the severity of her daughter’s illness, likely saving her life.
The Onset and Diagnosis
The Aldermans recounted the initial misdiagnosis of Noa-Rose’s symptoms, which included a high fever and vomiting, as scarlet fever or Strep A by doctors at Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to unresponsiveness and a subsequent hospital rush, where a lumbar puncture confirmed MenB.
Meningitis, an infection of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, is caused by various pathogens. MenB is the predominant bacterial strain in the UK, accounting for 82.6% of all meningococcal cases last year. Babies are particularly vulnerable due to their underdeveloped immune systems, making the NHS vaccination programme, administered at eight weeks, 12 weeks, and one year, vital.
Lingering Impact and Calls for Action
Now aged seven, Noa-Rose is among the one in five survivors left with life-altering conditions, including epilepsy, fatigue, and developmental delays. Her mother highlighted the profound shift from being a parent to a carer, navigating ongoing medical appointments and the emotional toll on Noa-Rose, who “just wants to be a child.”
Emma Alderman, now an ambassador for Meningitis Now, is advocating for the MenB vaccine to be extended to teenagers across the UK. This call follows recent outbreaks, including two fatalities in Kent earlier this month. Meningitis Now’s “No Plan B for MenB” campaign aims to introduce an adolescent booster by 2030 and increase vaccine accessibility.
The UK and Welsh governments have indicated they are awaiting “fresh” advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which is reviewing the Kent outbreak. Political parties in Wales, including the Green Party, Liberal Democrats, and Plaid Cymru, have voiced support for wider vaccine access and swift governmental action based on scientific evidence.
