Story perspectives

Teen's Meningitis Death Sparks Call for MenB Vaccine Expansion

4/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

Meg Draper, an 18-year-old student at the University of Bournemouth, died from meningitis B, prompting her parents to urge a broader MenB vaccine rollout.
Draper had been vaccinated against other meningitis strains but not MenB, which is only offered to young children.
Following her death and a Kent outbreak, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting requested the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to reassess vaccine eligibility for teenagers.

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Story summary

Meg Draper, an 18-year-old student at the University of Bournemouth, died from meningitis B, prompting her parents to urge a broader MenB vaccine rollout.
Draper had been vaccinated against other meningitis strains but not MenB, which is only offered to young children.
Following her death and a Kent outbreak, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting requested the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to reassess vaccine eligibility for teenagers.