Mother whose son was critically ill with MenB urges young to get vaccine

Parent Advocates for Meningitis B Immunisation Following Son's Near-Fatal Illness

Mother whose son was critically ill - Gaynor Simpson is calling on young people to accept the opportunity to receive the meningitis B vaccination after her son Ross faced a life-threatening battle with the disease. The Glasgow resident watched in horror as her university student son's health deteriorated rapidly in 2023. Ross Simpson was just eighteen years old and in his inaugural year studying at the University of Glasgow when he contracted meningitis B. His condition worsened so severely that medical staff at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital placed him on life support for five consecutive days. His family received grim news that he might not survive, but fortunately, he eventually made a full recovery.

Expanded Vaccination Programme Across Scotland

The MenB vaccine provides crucial protection against both meningitis and sepsis resulting from meningococcal group B bacteria. Health officials have now extended the vaccination offer to young people through clinics throughout Scotland. This initiative follows announcements by UK health authorities last month, prompted by several recent meningitis outbreaks. The most severe of these occurred in Kent, England, where two teenage victims lost their lives. Mrs Simpson shared her family's harrowing experience:

Ross became critically unwell after just feeling a bit under the weather. It quickly escalated into a situation where it was unclear whether or not he would survive.

She continued describing the emotional toll on parents:

To see your healthy, thriving 18-year-old child go from feeling a bit off colour to fighting for his life in ICU within the space of a few hours is a feeling that we, as parents, will never forget.

We are immensely grateful that despite the severity of the infection, he is still with us.

The Importance of Complete Vaccination

Recovery from meningococcal disease requires considerable time and patience, according to Mrs Simpson. She noted that while her son survived, others have not been as fortunate based on recent UK outbreaks.

It is a very long road to recovery from meningococcal disease and as we have seen from recent outbreaks in the UK, others are not so lucky.

It is a cruel and unforgiving disease that takes effect at terrifying speed.

Drawing from her personal experience, Mrs Simpson emphasized the critical importance of completing the full vaccination course:

Given our experience, I can't stress enough to young people and to their parents how important it is to take up the full two-dose offer of the MenB vaccine. It could save your child's life.

Earlier this year, she told the Press Association that Ross remained on life support for five days, with the first three being particularly uncertain. Medical professionals warned that his condition was so severe he might not survive. Eventually, he began to improve and spent ten days total in intensive care before returning home to begin his recovery journey.

Vaccination Eligibility and Requirements

The programme targets young people at elevated risk of infection, particularly those preparing for university or college in the 2026/27 academic year. Close contact and shared accommodation in educational settings can increase susceptibility to meningococcal disease. In Scotland, the MenB vaccine is available to young people born between 1 March 2008 and 28 February 2009. It is also offered to anyone who completed S6 during the 2025-26 academic year, irrespective of their future educational plans. Undergraduate university students under twenty-five who are beginning their studies for the first time in the 2026-27 academic year qualify for the vaccine. This includes international students. Similarly, college entrants under twenty-five starting for the first time in 2026-27 while residing in shared student accommodation are eligible, including international students. Health authorities stress that two doses are essential for complete protection, with at least twenty-eight days separating each injection. Ideally, both doses should be administered before commencing college or university. Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, who leads vaccination and immunisation at Public Health Scotland, explained:

Immunisation is the most effective way of preventing illness from meningococcal disease.

The roll out of the MenB vaccination programme is an opportunity for all eligible young people to receive vital protection from such a serious and life-threatening disease.

We encourage all those who are eligible to take up the offer, and to ensure both doses are received for full protection.

The vaccine is simultaneously being made available to young people in other regions of the United Kingdom. Originally introduced on the NHS for babies in 2015, children born before that year did not receive the vaccination through the health service. Currently, school-aged teenagers are offered the MenACWY vaccine, a single-dose injection protecting against four strains of meningococcal bacteria, which was also launched in 2015.