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| Matt Dawson reveals 'two weeks of hell' over son's meningitis | Matt Dawson reveals 'two weeks of hell' over son's meningitis |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Former England rugby union captain Matt Dawson has revealed his family went through "two weeks of hell" as his two-year-old son battled meningitis W135. | |
| Sam Dawson underwent treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital. | Sam Dawson underwent treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital. |
| The 2003 World Cup winner said he decided to speak out after a petition calling for all children to be vaccinated against the B-strain of the infection gained 400,000 signatures . | The 2003 World Cup winner said he decided to speak out after a petition calling for all children to be vaccinated against the B-strain of the infection gained 400,000 signatures . |
| But experts warned they needed to see how effective the vaccine would be. | But experts warned they needed to see how effective the vaccine would be. |
| The campaign was started after two-year-old Faye Burdett died from the B-strain. | The campaign was started after two-year-old Faye Burdett died from the B-strain. |
| In a series of tweets, 43-year-old Dawson, who played for Northampton and London Wasps during his club career, said: "The 2 weeks of hell we've just had cos of Meningitis. Sami lucky due to amazing people @GreatOrmondSt #vaccinateNOW. | In a series of tweets, 43-year-old Dawson, who played for Northampton and London Wasps during his club career, said: "The 2 weeks of hell we've just had cos of Meningitis. Sami lucky due to amazing people @GreatOrmondSt #vaccinateNOW. |
| "I must also heap praise on @ChelwestFT [Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust] for their superb A&E and recognition of Sami's disease. We're indebted. | "I must also heap praise on @ChelwestFT [Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust] for their superb A&E and recognition of Sami's disease. We're indebted. |
| "I ask one favour. Please read and sign so fewer kids suffer." | "I ask one favour. Please read and sign so fewer kids suffer." |
| The government's petition website states that any petition garnering more than 100,000 signatures will be considered for debate in Parliament. | The government's petition website states that any petition garnering more than 100,000 signatures will be considered for debate in Parliament. |
| Faye's story has been widely shared on social media after her mother Jenny Burdett, from Maidstone, Kent, published photos of her daughter lying in her hospital bed covered in a rash. | Faye's story has been widely shared on social media after her mother Jenny Burdett, from Maidstone, Kent, published photos of her daughter lying in her hospital bed covered in a rash. |
| She said: "We campaign for change in her memory. There needs to be a roll-out programme to vaccinate all children, at least up to age 11." | She said: "We campaign for change in her memory. There needs to be a roll-out programme to vaccinate all children, at least up to age 11." |
| Vaccine newly introduced | Vaccine newly introduced |
| A vaccine to protect against meningitis B became available on the NHS for children under the age of one in September, but parents who want to have older children vaccinated must pay privately. | A vaccine to protect against meningitis B became available on the NHS for children under the age of one in September, but parents who want to have older children vaccinated must pay privately. |
| The UK is the first country to have introduced the Men B vaccine. | The UK is the first country to have introduced the Men B vaccine. |
| James Stuart, a visiting professor at the University of Bristol and a World Health Organisation advisor, warned: "We need to know how well the vaccine is working. So it may not be the time yet to widen the programme." | James Stuart, a visiting professor at the University of Bristol and a World Health Organisation advisor, warned: "We need to know how well the vaccine is working. So it may not be the time yet to widen the programme." |
| Meanwhile, Professor of infection and immunity at Great Ormond St Hospital and University College London, Nigel Klein, said: "We all hope [it] will be successful. | Meanwhile, Professor of infection and immunity at Great Ormond St Hospital and University College London, Nigel Klein, said: "We all hope [it] will be successful. |
| "However as yet we really don't know how effective it will be and if there are going to be any problems and this is a major area of ongoing research supported by the Meningitis Research Foundation." | "However as yet we really don't know how effective it will be and if there are going to be any problems and this is a major area of ongoing research supported by the Meningitis Research Foundation." |
| The Department of Health said: "When any new immunisation programme is introduced, there has to be a date to determine eligibility." | The Department of Health said: "When any new immunisation programme is introduced, there has to be a date to determine eligibility." |
| What is Meningococcal Disease? | What is Meningococcal Disease? |
| Source: Meningitis Research Foundation | Source: Meningitis Research Foundation |