THE parents of a six-year-old boy who died from meningitis have released the harrowing last photo of their son in a bid to raise awareness.
Oliver Hall died less than 24 hours after first showing signs he was ill.
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Despite the best efforts of doctors and nurses who “did everything they could” to save Oliver’s life, the infection overwhelmed his body.
He passed away at the James Paget University Hospital in Norfolk on October 24.
At the age of six, Oliver was not vaccinated against the strain that cut his young life short – meningitis B.
In September 2015, the MenB vaccine was added to the NHS childhood immunisation programme, but only for babies under the age of 12 months.
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Now, Oliver’s heartbroken parents are urging the Government to make it available free of charge to all kids.
Bryan and Georgie Hall, from Halesworth in Suffolk, have joined forces with Meningitis Now to raise awareness.
Mrs Hall said: “Oliver achieved so much in his short life. He will always be remembered.”
Now the couple are calling on health secretary Jeremy Hunt and the Government to widen the vaccination programme to protect more children.
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“The Government are saying it’s not cost effective to vaccinate more children against this disease.
“Meningitis Now are arguing that point.
“Our main goal is to help them get this vaccination rolled out to more children.”
MORE THAN A RASH What is meningitis, how can you catch it and what are the signs and symptoms of the deadly disease?
The charity argues that a vaccine for all would be cost-effective, when compared with the cost of treating the devastating disease.
Meningitis can affect people of all ages, but is more common in babies and young children.
Teenagers and young adults – particularly university students – are also at high risk, because they live and socialise close together, raising the risk of the disease spreading quickly.
On Friday, the Meningitis Research Foundation urged people to be alert to the signs and symptoms of the disease, as cases of the deadly infection are expected to treble over the festive period.
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There are five main groups of meningitis, but meningococcal B (Men B) is the most common, responsible for 55 per cent of cases of meningococcal meningitis.
While the MenB jab is available free of charge on the NHS to babies, it can be bought privately.
Boots and other pharmacies offer the two-dose course at a cost of £220.
Last month Mrs Hall met MPs and other families, who have lost their children to meningitis.
“On the back of this meeting, they are looking into setting up a working party with the main aim of looking into the cost effectiveness of the vaccine and rolling it out to children.
“That is a positive step.”
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The couple set up the Oliver Hall Forever Fund tribute website, to raise money for Meningitis Now.
So far more than £4,000 has been raised in Oliver’s memory.
His mum added: “To see that total going up makes us feel that Oliver’s life was not in vain.”
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