I wish to thank everyone for uniting behind Meningitis Now’s Beat it Now! campaign to get the UK’s first lifesaving meningitis B vaccine free to all babies on the NHS, subject to price negotiations.

Beat it Now! shows how people uniting can create a strong voice to urge change and this reversal will save thousands of lives from death or disabilities such as limb loss, brain damage and epilepsy.

Meningitis B is the most common form of bacterial meningitis in the UK and together, after years of fighting, we are a step closer to a future without the deadly disease.

The decision is the most monumental news in the 31 years I’ve battled to eradicate meningitis after losing my baby Spencer to meningitis B.

For many, it’ll be some comfort that, although they cannot change their experience, they played a crucial role bringing in the vaccine.

But we cannot become complacent. There are many strains without vaccines, and this one will wipe out the majority of meningitis B, but not all.

So we must strive for new and better vaccines and ensure we continue to reach the millions of people needing our support.

Finally, let’s remember that for many the vaccine comes too late and there will still be people unprotected in the future.

So, I ask everyone to keep supporting Meningitis Now, the UK’s largest meningitis charity.

Stick with me. There’s a lot to do and we can do it together.

To help, call us on 01453 768000 or visit www.MeningitisNow.org.

Steve Dayman, Founder, Meningitis Now.