Family of girl who died from meningitis call for better protection for young peoplepublished at 06:57 GMT
The Kenny family (L to R) Juliette, Michael, Rebecca and Florence
The family of an 18-year-old girl who died following a meningitis outbreak in Kent are calling for better access to vaccines for teenagers and young adults.
The Meningitis Research Foundation says the best way to achieve protection against MenB is to extend routine NHS access to MenB vaccination, so that it includes teenagers and young adults.
Juliette Kenny died last week one day after showing symptoms of the disease which included vomiting and discolouration in her cheeks, her father said.
She is one of two confirmed deaths from the infection, the other being a 21-year-old University of Kent student.
Michael Kenny, Juliette’s father, remembered his daughter was “fit, healthy and strong” before her death and “a force in this world”.
He said future deaths from the illness “can be avoided” and urged the government to improve access to the MenB vaccine for young people still at risk.
“No family should experience this pain and tragedy,” he said. “The work to protect young people has started. It needs to be more.”
