Since joining MRF 6 months ago, if I have heard one phrase more often than any other it has been the call of our supporters for us to work ever harder to ensure "no one has to go through what we have". That call stays with me every single day. It comes straight from experience of meningitis and the heart.
So the saying '24 hours is a long time in politics' has a special resonance for me this year. With the Meningitis B petition debate taking place in parliament on Monday (25th April) about the potential to widen the current vaccination programme, it reminds me that for any parent whose child gets meningitis, it could be the time they go from playing in the park together to saying goodbye forever.
I can't help but wonder how much could be achieved in the political space at the debate that could make the parental experience that's '"lightning quick" a thing of the past. I don't expect our politicians to bend space and time. But I do ask them to use their time to great effect.
So to help them, these are three things they can do at the debate that we've teamed up with Meningitis Now to help promote. We want them to ask questions that help:
1.Address the unfairness of the cost effectiveness framework for preventing severe childhood illness and ensure that the peace of mind health benefits of vaccination are included in the framework used to make decisions about the vaccine programme.
2.Secure a government commitment to funding and delivery of the adolescent intervention study with Men B vaccine.
3.Prioritise effective protection for the most vulnerable in the short-term by getting commitment to undertake a one-off catch-up for children under 5.
We can't let the online petition that secured over 820,000 signatures in February go to waste. The family of Faye Burdett deserve more than that. The Timmins family deserve more than that. Every parent who has every worried about their child getting meningitis deserves more than that.
World Meningitis Day (24 April) is just 24 hours long. If 24 hours is a long time in politics, our politicians could use that time wisely by preparing for and committing to the vital debate on Monday. They can give just 2 hours to attend and put forward their questions and the case. Their attendance tomorrow could help stop 24 hours in a parent's life they will never forget. The last 24 hours they will never get back.
MP's can sign an Early Day Motion (an expression of support for a particular issue) about the meningitis B vaccine. It refers to this petition and the evidence sessions. You can view the Early Day Motion and see which MPs have signed it on the Parliament website
If you want to do something, you can write to your MP with this letter
If you'd like to see the original petition see here
If you'd like to see the written evidence MRF has given the petitions committee ahead of the debate on Monday see here