Urgent warning to parents over deadly meningitis threat to schoolkids

THOUSANDS of schoolkids are at risk of potentially deadly meningitis and blood poisoning after a sharp decline in vaccine uptake.

Jabs protect against the bacteria which lead to the infections, but many aren’t immunised, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

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The number of young people given a shot against polio, diphtheria and tetanus, also known as the 3-in-1 jab, also fell, it added.

Health officials said that the dip in coverage means that many children are unprotected from life-threatening diseases.

Kids in Year 9 are offered the jabs in school as part of their routine childhood immunisations.

This includes the 3-in-1 jab and the MenACWY vaccine, which protects against four strains of the meningococcal bacteria – A, C, W and Y – which cause meningitis and blood poisoning.

Before the pandemic, around 88 per cent of children took up the offer of these vaccines, which are usually given at the same time.

But in the 2021/22 academic year, this fell to just 69 per cent for both, according to UKHSA data.

In some parts of the UK, including Swindon, uptake was as low as 57.4 per cent – a major drop from 87.2 per cent the previous academic year.

In 2020/21 there was also a dip in uptake, but catch up programmes have led to more children being protected.

The UKHSA is urging all parents and carers to ensure their teens are up to date with their immunisations before they leave school.

They should also be aware of the key eight signs to look out for – which a high temperature, a stiff neck and a rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is roller over it.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA said: “In recent years we have seen vaccine uptake fall due to the challenges posed by the pandemic.

“Many young people who missed out on their vaccinations have already been caught up, but more needs to be done to ensure all those eligible are vaccinated.

“Children and young people who have missed out on their teenage vaccines should contact their school nurse, school immunisation team or GP surgery to arrange a catch-up.

“These vaccines offer the best protection as young people start their journey into adulthood and mixing more widely, whether going to college, starting work, travelling or going to summer festivals.”

Health minister Maria Caulfield added: “It’s incredibly important for children to stay up to date with routine vaccinations as this remains one of our best defences against infectious diseases, not just for the person being vaccinated but for their family, friends and those around them.”

Last month, Unicef revealed that some some 67 million children around the world did not receive routine jabs between 2019 and 2021.

The international children’s body said overall support for vaccines remains “relatively strong” but several factors suggest the “threat of vaccine hesitancy may be growing”.

These include uncertainty about the response to the pandemic, growing access to misleading information, declining trust in expertise, and political polarisation, it said.

Meanwhile, Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has called on countries around the world and the international vaccine body Gavi to help drive a catch up programme for youngsters.

It warned that there are a growing number of unvaccinated children in crisis-hit countries and that current programmes could leave many as so-called “zero-dose children” – those who have not received any routine childhood jabs.

“The double-whammy of humanitarian crises and the pandemic has left a growing number of children in many countries where we work at a high risk of contracting life-threatening diseases like measles, diphtheria or pneumonia that could be prevented by vaccines,” Miriam Alia Prieto from MSF said.

What is meningitis and what are the key symptoms?

MENINGITIS is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

While it can affect people of any age, it is most common in babies, children, teenagers and young adults.

It can be very serious if not treated quickly, and it can cause life-threatening blood poisoning (sepsis) and result in permanent brain or nerve damage.

It is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection, which can be spread through sneezing, coughing and kissing.

Several vaccines – including MenB, 6-in-1, pneumococcal, Hib/MenC, MMR and MenACWY – offer some protection against meningitis.

Symptoms develop suddenly and can include:

• a high temperature (fever)
• being sick
• a headache
• a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
• a stiff neck
• a dislike of bright lights
• drowsiness or unresponsiveness
• seizures (fits)

If you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis, call 999 or go to your closest A&E immediately.

Treatments include antibiotics, fluids and oxygen.

Source: NHS