Rugby Star Matt Dawson Campaigns For Meningitis Vaccination

Reveals his family's two weeks of hell as his toddler son became seriously ill

Rugby world cup winner Matt Dawson is campaigning for a vaccination scheme to help prevent young children contracting meningitis B, following his family's brush with the disease.

The Chiswick-based former England rugby union captain has spoken of his family's two weeks of hell, following the hospitalisation of two-year old Sam with meningitis B. Sam is recovering at home since last Tuesday.

Matt Dawson

The rugby star has called on the public to support an online petition, calling for a Government vaccination scheme for all children up to age 11, and not just those 2-5 months old. The petition had been signed by 580,500 people -the most signed on the UK government website.

The public reaction comes after the parents of two-year old Faye Burdett revealed photographs of their child n hospital, where she later died of sepsis as a result of of meningitis.

Currently young babies receive Men B vaccination as part of a recent vaccination government roll-out but campaigners want this extended to older children- the disease primarily affects those aged under two.

Matt posted images of his child on Twitter to alert the public to meningitis danger

Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, Matt Dawson said: "When people hear and see the word meningitis I would love the alarm bells to ring rather than it be something they heard of that something else has suffered from."

He said he wanted people to sign the online petition but there had to be an public education and awareness programme.

"If people go online to meningitis.org, or one of the charity websites, go and look and see what the signs are -and it will take two minutes of your life- and could potentially save your child. Its becoming increasingly more prevalent and we've all got a job as parents to do something about it."

Asked how his little boy was now that he was home from hospital, he replied: "He's doing pretty well. He's temporarily lost the use of his legs, he's crawling, but most importantly he's smiling and laughing".

Matt Dawson, who is married to a Carolin, a former model from Germany, also thanked people and said he had been overwhelmed by the support and good wishes. The couple have another son, Alex.

February 19, 2016