A MUM from Wotton-under-Edge whose 18-year-old son died of meningitis has slammed the government’s decision to charge for a vaccine as “gambling with people’s lives”.

It was revealed last week that Bexsero, a vaccination against bacterial meningitis (meningitis B) which had been unavailable for the past three months due to high global demand, had returned to high street pharmacies and private clinics for £95 per dose. 

Though the vaccine is available on the NHS for babies aged up to one year, there is anger among bereaved families, politicians and charities that it is not being offered free for everyone.

The in-store vaccination service, priced at £95 per dose, is for patients aged between two months and 50 years and, depending on age, two or three shots are what is recommended.

Karen Pegler’s son Chris, a former student of Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School, died within 24 hours of contracting meningitis in November 2010. She is furious that the government insists on charging for vaccine.

“We are appalled that the government are not taking meningitis seriously,” said the 44-year-old. “How many more families have to go through what we have been through before they open their eyes to the situation? 

“They are gambling with people’s lives.

“People like us are tirelessly fundraising to try to stop this dreadful disease.”

The founder of Stroud-based charity Meningitis Now, Steve Dayman, was equally angry.

He said the vaccine was “out of reach for some families”, adding: “Our position is, and has always been, for it to be available free on the NHS.

“This is a new vaccine and has only been offered to newborn babies. We understand the strategy behind this to assess the impact of the vaccine on a set age, but if it had been rolled out to older children from the start, we would have more children protected and more data on its effectiveness.

“At the moment, the government are sticking to their position to only offer it to newborns but we will continue to knock on Jeremy Hunt’s door to have a catch-up vaccine offered to under-fives.

“The more children we can protect, the better.”

MP for the Cotswolds Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who campaigned for wider access to the vaccination, said it would be sensible to make Bexsero available for under-twos and students. 

“I don’t know what the NHS is paying, but it is considerably less than the price of £95 per dose,” he said.

“I would be concerned that the shortages are being used to push the price up and make unacceptable profits. It is quite a lot above the cost of production.

“The cost price in the NHS and the cost price in the chemist is considerably different. 

“If we make it available for under twos and for students, it would be much more sensible.”

The Department of Health had not responded to the Gazette’s requests for comment before going to print. 

In the UK every year there are approximately 1,500 reported cases of meningococcal disease, making it the most common cause of bacterial meningitis. 

Symptoms include a high fever with cold hands and feet, confusion, vomiting and headaches, but with early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment, most people will make a full recovery. 

The meningitis B vaccination could provide protection for nearly 90 per cent of infection strains in England and Wales.