AN INVERKEITHING mum who almost lost her son to meningitis B is “devastated” that the UK government seems set on ruling out a move to offer the vaccine to all children.

Gemma Lessells, of Lothian Court, began campaigning for the life-saving vaccine after son Matthew almost died from the disease six years ago and is urging politicians not to put a price on children’s lives.

A vaccine to protect against meningitis B is currently available on the NHS for babies but more than 800,000 people have signed a petition for it to be given to all children aged under 11.

The issue is to be debated in parliament but the Department of Health said its priority was to vaccinate those children considered most at risk from the disease.

It said it was following guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the government on the cost-effectiveness of vaccinations.

Ms Lessells said: “It’s devastating, to be honest. They’ve not ruled it out but it’s not looking likely.

“What we went through was bad but there are so many families I’ve spoken to as a result of being involved in the campaign who have lost children. They are the people I feel for.

“The whole cost-effectiveness thing annoys me. There are lifelong costs of care for children with severe disabilities having had meningitis. In 2016, no children should be dying from vaccine-preventable illnesses.

“How can you put a price on a child’s life? It beggars belief.

“The UK has one of the highest child mortality rates in western Europe and meningitis B is a proportion of that. Given how relatively wealthy we are as a country, it’s embarrassing. We don’t have the money to prevent that happening but we have the money to give MPs an 11 per cent pay rise? It’s laughable.”

In July 2010, the Press reported how Matthew was just 13 months old when he suddenly went limp and blue-lipped in his terrified mum’s arms. He was rushed to Victoria Hospital with a temperature of 40.9ºC on admission and a heart rate of 210bpm. After 48 hours, he was diagnosed with meningitis B, which then had no known vaccine.

Now six and a happy, healthy young boy, Matthew has been helping his mum campaign for the vaccination and was recognised with a top honour from a meningitis charity.

Ms Lessells said: “Matthew became the Meningitis Research Foundation’s first-ever junior ambassador for Scotland. I was proud. He got a special assembly at school which was just lovely. The school are really supportive of him and they had a ‘wear purple for meningitis’ day to fundraise, which was fab.”

Although Ms Lessells was pleased with the launch of the immunisation programme for babies last September, she has vowed to keep campaigning until all children are protected from the deadly disease.

“It’s fantastic for future generations but there is still a huge gap,” she said. “I’m not going to stop until the disease has been eradicated.”

A Department of Health spokesman said: “MenB is a terrible disease that can be devastating for families. This is why we looked so carefully at the evidence for a free vaccination programme for infants and why in 2015 became the first – and to date only – country in the world to introduce this programme.

“We understand people’s concerns and all vaccination programmes are kept under constant review, but we have to be guided by the very best scientific advice and we will continue to protect the children who are most at risk.”