Manchester student urges others to get MenB vaccine after life-threatening battle

Sophia was diagnosed with meningitis and septicaemia in March 2023

Author: Olivia DaviesPublished 20th Aug 2024

With students heading off to university soon, a teenager is raising awareness about meningitis.

In March 2023, at just 19-years-old, Sophia faced a life-threatening battle with meningitis and septicaemia while at the University of Manchester.

Despite the challenges, including permanent hearing loss and multiple surgeries, she has shown remarkable resilience and is now dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of the MenB vaccine, especially for university students.

Sophia said: "MenB is one of the most common types that students contract and they're not vaccinated against it - unless you've gone out of your way to contact your GP or your pharmacist about it - so it's definitely very, very important because vaccinations definitely decrease the risk of you contracting it.

"I didn't know, I thought i was completely covered because I had it (vaccine) when I was a baby and I had a booster at school, but I don't think there's enough awareness about this MenB."

Sophia wants people to be aware of the symptoms: "I woke up one morning feeling very achy, and it very quickly progressed to vomiting... I was just getting weaker and weaker throughout the day.

"By the evening I noticed i was feeling sensitive to the light, it hurt to look at the TV.

"I texted my mum, 'I'm feeling really dizzy' and she rang me, and quickly noticed that I could barely respond.

"When i got to the hospital they told me that my bloods were deranged, so I had septicemia, as well as meningitis, and this turned to sepsis - so I got what was called septic hip, or septic arthritis and I was in the most excruciating pain I've ever felt, it was horrific!

"I had inflammation of my heart and it was like my heart was beating in my throat.

"I suffered various different complications, and I had muscular skeletal issues which have led to more hospital stays and visits, and I've obviously lost my hearing in one ear."

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