Addressing my feelings on the second issue first, as I would imagine this would be the most controversial and possibly ignorant comment on my behalf. Bexsero the vaccination developed is a vaccine that consists of an inactivated strain of meningitis B combined with proteins found on the surface of meningococcal bacteria, the new vaccine is said to protect against 88% of the strains circulating the UK at present. Bexsero is owned by GSK, which recently acquired it from Novartis due to a recent transaction, and they are currently offering the vaccination at £75 privately. However, in March 2014 - last year- expert advisers for the government recommend that the vaccine should be given to babies from 2 months old on the NHS, yet a cost effective price has not been agreed. As a believer that all medical care should be free, and by this I mean to the extent that it is publicly funded (i.e. the NHS), since health care in my opinion is a basic human right, I agree with many meningitis charities who believe that urgent action needs to be taken by both the Prime Minister and Mr Hunt in order to make this vaccine widely available. I feel that by delaying this process and taking too long to decide on a price too many children are dying or acquiring life long problems as a consequence of the disease, which should not be happening. If there is a way to prevent such a horrible disease, surely as a nation it is our moral obligation to provide that prevention? The idea that this is being delayed because of a cost to me seems absurd, but then I suppose you could say that I am too young and inexperienced in the 'real' world to understand that reasoning. Whilst yes that may be true, and I admit that my comments here have been slightly ignorant, I do sometimes wish that people would but selfless acts first, and see that if we were not so ruled by money that we could help so many more.
However, before this post turns into a rant on my personal views on health care, money and human's moral obligations I will swiftly move on and address my first point. I knew very little when reading the article about meningitis B, so after reading this article I went away and researched some basic facts on meningitis B, and meningitis as a whole.
Meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is caused by meningococcal bacteria, which is commonly carried in the nose and throat harmlessly by one in ten people. The bacteria is transmitted by close contact. Anyone can get meningitis, but it is most common in babies and young children who are most vulnerable, hence the suggestion of giving 2 month old babies the Bexsero vaccination. Meningococcal group B bacteria, the cause of meningitis B causes a serious and life threatening case of meningitis and septicaemia.
The symptoms of meningitis B:
- high fever, but cold hands and feet
- confusion
- vomitting
- headaches
- agitation
- have pale, blotchy skin, and a red rash that doesn't fade when a glass is rolled over it
Fortunately if meningitis is diagnosed early, it can be treated and many live due to antibiotic treatment. The disease is fatal in one in ten. However, those who survive one in four to be precise often end up living with a life long problem such as amputations, deafness, epilepsy or learning disabilities.
After knowing so little about the disease I know feel slightly more informed, but I know I have barely even scratched the surface of information about the disease. I do however think that it will be extremely interesting to track the progress of this vaccination, to see how it will affect the future babies of the world. Personally, I think that its effects will be remarkable, I believe so many people will be able to benefit from such a vaccination, and ultimately is that not the whole purpose of healthcare? Using your own knowledge to create something that will benefit people? Well that is what it is partly to me at least.
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