An 18-year-old UK student died of meningitis B after symptoms appeared; her family and health advocates urge wider vaccine access for teens.

Juliette Kenny, an 18-year-old Kent student, died within 12 hours of showing meningitis B symptoms, including vomiting and facial discoloration, after being hospitalized on March 13. Her family and the Meningitis Research Foundation are urging the UK government to make the menB vaccine routinely available on the NHS for teenagers and young adults, as it is currently only offered to infants. Over 100 students were turned away from vaccination clinics due to limited supply, highlighting access challenges. The group says past decisions not to extend the vaccine’s availability were based on cost-effectiveness but failed to account for the disease’s severe, long-term impacts.