In December 1997 my youngest son then aged three contracted pneumococcal meningitis and was in intensive care for 10 days. He spent another 5 days in hospital before he could even walk two or three steps again. He was 'lucky' he survived but as a result is profoundly deaf. 1/

In 2006 there was a vaccine given to all babies/children which prevented further cases of this horrible disease. I was Chair of a primary school governing body at that time and was involved in the coordination of children getting the vaccine 2/

I wept when this was being arranged as it was too late for my child. Despite having a cochlear implant operation in 1998, a brilliant thing, he had to relearn everything and also had to be supported throughout his education 3/

He is an amazing man of 26 now and living his own life but not without encountering difficulties along the way.

I am not posting this about him though, he knows how proud I am of what he has achieved BUT imagine if he was able to have that vaccine? 4/

His implant operation and educational support cost into the hundreds of thousands of £'s. The implant is a lifelong commitment and is upgraded and tested regularly. I was once told by a hateful anti-vax colleague that I had caused his meningitis through his MMR. 5/

These anti-vax lobby are vile. I for one cannot wait to have the coronavirus vaccine and stop living in the fear of catching this horrible illness. G. went into hospital in a coma on Christmas day 1997 and I still remember the fear I felt every year /End