A GRIEVING mum yesterday urged students to take up a life-saving meningitis jab after her talented daughter died just hours after being sent home from school.
Tragic Penny Lockett, 17, was struck down by a deadly strain of the virus which is spreading among young people, particularly university students.
Her mum, Kym, 48, said: “Penny was ill with what seemed to be a regular sickness and diarrhoea bug and had a temperature.
“I knew that other children in the area were suffering with sickness and diarrhoea, so wasn’t too worried.
“We were trying to keep her temperature down with paracetamol but she continued to be ill through the night and into the next morning.
“I did check for a rash that is commonly associated with meningitis, but there was nothing to be seen.
“On the Friday morning I phoned the doctor. They reassured me that we were doing all the right things based on her symptoms.
“She had a bath but when she got out she slumped on the floor.
“I sat her up and she had the tiniest absence which I recognised was a small seizure. This really bothered me and I phoned 111.
“While I was on the phone Penny’s breathing became shallow and she stopped responding to me.”
Penny was rushed to hospital and transferred to intensive care but her condition continued to deteriorate.
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Kym, of Halifax, West Yorks., added: “Penny had gone by 10pm on Friday night. She was 17 years old. It all happened so quickly.
“We later learned that Penny had died from meningococcal meningitis type W.
“This disease hides behind symptoms that you’d get with common everyday illnesses which makes it so hard for doctors to know when it’s something more dangerous.
“The MenACWY vaccine is available now for young people to prevent the MenW type of meningitis, and the thing that frustrates me is that uptake of this vaccine has been low among people who are Penny’s age.
“This seems staggering to me.
“People don’t appreciate what this disease can do if they haven’t been through it.
“It’s so quick to get the vaccine and can give that peace of mind.”
Kym hopes that by speaking out about Penny’s death in October 2015 she can help prevent any similar tragedies and raise awareness.
Teenagers are a high risk age group for meningitis and septicaemia and university freshers are particularly at risk because they mix with so many other students, some of whom are unknowingly carrying the bacteria.
Early symptoms include headache, vomiting, limb pain, fever, and cold hands and feet.
Vinny Smith, Chief Executive of the Meningitis Research Foundation, said, “By getting the free meningitis vaccine, young people are not only protecting themselves from a potentially deadly disease, but also protecting others by stopping the spread.
“It’s important to remember that this vaccine doesn’t prevent all types of meningitis, so it’s vital for students away from home to watch out for their friends if they’re unwell.
“If they have meningitis it can be like a very bad hangover that quickly gets worse. It can be deadly, so act fast and get medical help.”