The tragic death of an 18-year-old girl due to meningitis has left her family devastated. Juliette Kenny passed away on March 14 after contracting meningitis B during an outbreak in Kent. She was a sixth form student at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham and sadly succumbed to the infection just 12 hours after showing initial symptoms.
Juliette’s father, Michael Kenny, shared that they first noticed her vomiting and discolored cheeks in the early hours of Friday. Despite being fit and healthy, Juliette’s condition rapidly deteriorated, prompting her family to seek medical help. She was taken to a local emergency drop-in center and later transferred to A&E where she received treatment but tragically lost her battle with meningitis.
Describing Juliette as a vibrant and loving individual, her father emphasized the need for better protection against meningitis B for young people. He urged the government to enhance access to the menB vaccination, highlighting the importance of preventing such devastating losses in the future.
Vinny Smith, the chief executive of Meningitis Research Foundation, noted that despite calls for routine availability of the menB vaccination on the NHS, it was not deemed cost-effective in 2015. The foundation continues to advocate for improved preventive measures against meningitis to safeguard individuals, particularly the youth, from this deadly infection.
