A SURREY woman encouraged people to take up new free meningitis vaccines for babies, teenagers and first-time university students during last week’s Meningitis Awareness Week.

Meningitis Awareness Week is run by international charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF). From the start of September, the world’s first comprehensive vaccination programme against meningococcal B (MenB) meningitis and septicaemia for babies has been introduced into the UK’s immunisation programme.

It follows the start of a recent meningococcal ACWY (Men ACWY) vaccination programme for 14 to 18-year-old schoolchildren and students aged 19-25 starting university for the first time.

The programme for youngsters was prompted by the alarming rise of a deadly new strain of meningococcal W meningitis and septicaemia, identified by MRF’s ground-breaking Meningococcus Genome Library project.

MRF member and ambassador Amy, who joined its #WheresOurVaccine campaign in March to press for adoption of the new MenB vaccine, said: “I contracted meningitis in January 2011 and spent three weeks in intensive care, two of which were in a coma and on life support. I then spent a further 10 weeks on a ward.

“My feet and hands were black from the septicaemia and my treatment for my black feet continued as an out-patient.

“I spent six weeks improving my strength and learning to walk again. I had various operations after that removing six toes and after struggling with infections, open wounds and excruciating pain from my feet I made the decision to have my left leg amputated below the knee in August 2012.

“I have also I had a left total hip replacement and have the same problem in my right and most likely have to have that one done later too. I know how devastating these diseases can be, so I would urge all who are eligible to make sure they get the vaccines.”

The disease can strike anyone of any age without warning killing one-in-10, and leaving a third of survivors with life-altering after-effects such as severe deafness, brain damage and loss of limbs.

Babies, children under five and young adults are most at risk.

Meningitis Research Foundation’s pioneering work contributed to the development of the MenB vaccine in the UK, and the charity is now seeking support from the public to enable funding of research to maintain and evaluate the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Chief executive Chris Head said: “We are delighted with the introduction of these new vaccines which we hope will further reduce the number of cases in the UK.

“But there are still some forms of the disease which are not covered by these vaccines so it is vital that people are still aware of the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia.”

For more details, call 0808 800 3344 or visit meningitis.org.