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Meningitis B: My daughter died in hours
5 Apr
Summary
- Meningitis B claimed an 18-month-old's life within three hours.
- The MenB vaccine was introduced in 2015, three years too late.
- A recent outbreak in Kent has seen 21 confirmed cases and two deaths.
Fourteen years ago, Danielle Nicholls lost her 18-month-old daughter, Cici, to Meningitis B. The former children's TV presenter recalls the devastating speed of the illness, which claimed Cici's life within three hours during a family holiday to Lanzarote in May 2012. The MenB vaccine, which could have saved her daughter, was not introduced to the public program until 2015.
Danielle is now an ambassador for Meningitis Now, raising awareness about the dangers of the disease. Her plea comes amid a recent Meningitis B outbreak in Kent, reported as of April 1, 2026, with 21 confirmed cases and two deaths. This cluster has prompted public health responses, including vaccinations and antibiotic distribution.
She emphasizes that Meningitis B can affect even healthy children rapidly. Symptoms to watch for include cold extremities, fever, confusion, vomiting, and mottled skin. Danielle, who has since had two more children, Mitzi and Chase, uses her platform to discuss grief and mental health, urging parents to prioritize the MenB vaccine for their children and to talk openly about death and loss.
