Boy dies from meningitis within 24 hours of falling ill
Heartbroken parents of a six-year-old boy who died from meningitis B have released the final images of their son in hospital.
Oliver Hall, from Halesworth, Suffolk, died 24 hours after contracting the bacterial infection which mainly strikes babies and children.
His grieving parents, Georgie, 37, and Bryan, 43, are now calling for all children to be vaccinated against the deadly strain of the disease.
Their call piles further pressure on the Government to get all children protected and reiterates a landmark petition following the death of two-year-old Faye Burdett in 2016 which attracted more than 820,000 signatures.
Vaccinations against meningitis B have been available for babies up to a year old on the NHS since 2015 but not for older children.
Oliver Hall, from Halesworth, Suffolk, died in hospital 24 hours after contracting the bacterial infection which mainly affects babies and children
Mrs Hall said medics at James Paget University Hospital, Norfolk, 'did everything they could' to save her son's life before he passed away.
A meningitis B vaccine is currently available to children up to the age of one, but the Government last year said making it available to all children was 'not cost effective'.
The vaccine is privately available in Superdrug, Boots and in private clinics from £210 for a two-dose course.
One in 10 of the 3,200 cases of the bacterial meningitis in the UK per year are fatal, with one in three left with permanent disabilities.
Oliver's parents claim widening the programme will save lives and want to meet with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to raise their concerns.
Public Health England data last September showed since the jab was introduced it has been behind a 42 per cent drop in cases of Men B.
His grieving parents, Georgie, 37, and Bryan Hall, 43, are now calling for all children to be vaccinated against the deadly strain of the disease
WHAT IS MENINGITIS? Meningitis is caused by bacteria and results in an infection in the spinal cord and brain lining. It can also lead to blood infections. The disease commonly occurs among people who seem perfectly healthy and its onset is without warning. You can catch the disease by being in close contact with someone who has it - such as kissing them or absorbing their germs when they cough. It is easily spread among people living in tight quarters. For this reason, it is commonly perceived as a disease that mainly affects students living on college campuses. Even when treated, the disease kills 10 to 15 of every 100 infected people. And 10 to 20 of every 100 survivors will be disabled after contracting the disease.
Mrs Hall said: 'The government are saying it is not cost effective to vaccinate more children against this disease.
'Meningitis Now, the charity that we are working with, are arguing that point. Our main goal is to help them to get this vaccination rolled out to more children.'
Speaking about the death of her son in October for the first time, Mrs Hall added: 'Oliver achieved so much in his short life.
'He will always be remembered and so we have set up the Oliver Hall Forever Fund tribute website, which is supporting Meningitis Now.'
'More than £4,000 has been raised so far - and we are really grateful to everyone for their donations and support.
'To see that total going up makes it feel that Oliver's life was not in vain.'
Meningitis B most often strikes children under the age of one, and symptoms can include cold hands, confusion and headaches.
A rash is deemed the most common sign of the infection that strikes the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
The bacterial infection isn't always fatal - but it can leave victims with long-lasting problems, such as amputation, deafness and learning difficulties.
Anyone willing to donate can do so here.
Mrs Hall said medics at James Paget University Hospital, Norfolk, 'did everything they could' to save her son's life before he passed away (pictured with his brother Charlie)