A Fife mother who almost lost her son to meningitis has welcomed a Parliamentary debate on vaccination.
Gemma Lessells, of Inverkeithing, is campaigning for the vaccine against deadly Meningitis B to be rolled out for all children up to the age of 11.
The issue will be discussed by MPs after an online petition started by Gateshead dad Lee Booth drew more than 770,000 signatures the most of any UK Parliament petition.
Mrs Lessells said: “So many lives have been altered as a result of meningitis and far too many have been lost. It’s time to do something about that.
“All children should be protected, not just a few.
“They have got a vaccine which has been approved for use.
“It’s obviously effective so it’s beyond belief why they’re not using it.
“It all boils down to cost, but how can you put a price on a child’s life? Meningitis B kills more children than any other infectious disease in the UK.”
Her son, Matthew, became seriously ill in 2010 after becoming infected with Meningitis B.
The six-year-old has now recovered and is a junior ambassador for the Meningitis Research Foundation.
Other children have not been as lucky.
There was an overwhelming response to the petition after a harrowing image of two-year-old Faye Burdett, from Maidstone in Kent, was shared.
Faye died on Valentine’s Day after her body was ravaged by meningitis and sepsis.
Mrs Lessells said: “It’s horrific that it’s taken the story that has brought it to everybody’s attention.
“I can’t even begin to imagine what they are going through. We came so close to losing Matthew. That was harrowing enough.”
Vaccinating the seven million children in the UK under 11 would cost the NHS an estimated £300 million.
She added: “It might be worth considering the fact that for a child left with loss of limbs the bill to see that child into adulthood is estimated at being in the millions, when hospital treatment, rehabilitation, prosthetics, additional operations, occupational therapy, carers’ benefits and disability benefits are taken into account.
“The government need to look at the bigger picture and realise that prevention is better than treatment and dealing with after effects.”