Juliette Kenny, 18, died less than 12 hours after being rushed to A&E with symptoms of meningitis B
The father of a teenager who tragically passed away in Kent amidst a meningitis outbreak has expressed his family’s profound grief over their loss.
Juliette Kenny succumbed to the illness on Saturday, March 14, merely a day after initial symptoms appeared. The family of the 18 year old is now advocating for enhanced protection measures for young individuals.
Michael Kenny, Juliette’s father, has shared the heartbreak his family is grappling with, stating that his daughter had been “fit, healthy and strong” prior to her untimely demise. She had successfully completed her practical assessment for her PE A-level on Thursday, March 12, only to display symptoms such as vomiting and cheek discolouration the following day.
Juliette, described by her father as possessing a “beautifully positive energy”, is one of two students who have lost their lives due to the meningitis B outbreak in the county. Mr Kenny voiced that “no family should experience this pain and tragedy” and that “this can be avoided”. He wishes for his daughter’s legacy to inspire “lasting change”.
This comes as over 100 students in Kent were denied access to a meningitis vaccine after officials closed the queue on Thursday, reports Belfast Live.
In a statement to the Press Association, Mr Kenny expressed: “We are incredibly proud parents to two wonderful daughters. Juliette is a force in this world. With her beautifully positive energy she spread fun, love and happiness to those around her and she continues to do so now.
“The devastation of her loss to us, her family and friends is immeasurable. Sharing stories of the empathy, warmth and fun that she created is helping her family and friends through at this time. Her energy continues to make the people who love her find a way.
“The illness took her from us so quickly.”
Mr Kenny revealed he initially realised his daughter was unwell when she was sick during the early hours of Friday, March 13. Juliette, a year 13 pupil at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham, displayed no other signs at that point, he explained.
“In the morning on Friday, she was taken, by us, to our local emergency drop-in as a discolouration appeared on her cheeks,” Mr Kenny said.
“She was given antibiotics and sent by ambulance to A&E. Juliette fought bravely for hours, but despite the fantastic NHS hospital staff fighting alongside her, meningitis took her from us less than 12 hours later.
“We were with her at the end, and the last sounds that she heard were the voices of those who loved her telling her how very much loved and cherished she is.”
Together with the Meningitis Research Foundation, Mr Kenny and his family are urging the UK to take immediate steps to enhance access to the menB vaccination for teenagers and young adults.
“No family should experience this pain and tragedy,” he said.
“This can be avoided. There are young people currently battling this and young people still at risk.
“As parents, we knew our children would change the world and be a force for good. The work to protect young people has started. It needs to be more.
“Juliette’s impact on this world must be lasting change. Now is the time to ensure families are safe from the impact of meningitis B.”
Vinny Smith, chief executive of Meningitis Research Foundation, revealed that in 2015 the charity’s campaign for the menB vaccination to be “routinely available” on the NHS for all at-risk age groups was “not taken forward” as it was “judged not to be cost-effective”. The menB jab became available on the NHS for babies in 2015, which means the vast majority of young people born prior to that year remain unprotected against it unless they’ve paid for it privately.
The Kenny family were unaware that the vaccination isn’t routinely offered on the NHS for teenagers and young adults, and that accessing it would require private payment. Mr Smith urged the Government to “decide now to save lives” and emphasised menB’s “lifelong impact”, including disabilities resulting from the infection.
He stated: “When we made the case for menB vaccination to be routinely available on the NHS in 2015 for all at-risk age groups, wider protection for teenagers and young adults was not taken forward (it was judged to not be cost-effective within the criteria used at the time). Our concern, then and now, is that this has not fully reflected the impact of menB or the full value protection from a vaccine brings.
“It hasn’t accounted for the severity of meningitis, its lifelong impact, or the trauma and bereavement experienced by families. People across the country will have seen that impact this week; we believe the UK Government can decide now to save lives and limit the lifelong disabilities caused by meningitis, protecting people for generations to come.”
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that as of 5pm on Wednesday, there have been 15 confirmed cases of meningitis, with an additional 12 under investigation. This brings the total to 27 suspected or confirmed cases, a rise from 20 on Wednesday.
At present, nine out of the 15 confirmed cases are known to be caused by menB. On Thursday, a letter signed by 40 MPs was sent to the Health Secretary, urging the Government and health officials to collaborate with universities nationwide on catch-up vaccination programmes and to enhance awareness.
The letter also called for a swift review by the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation (JCVI) regarding eligibility for meningitis vaccines. As of Thursday, the vaccine programme in Kent has been extended to anyone who visited the Club Chemistry venue from 5th to 15th March, year 12 and 13 pupils at affected schools, students and staff at the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church university, and close contacts of confirmed or suspected cases.
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