Campaigning to change vaccine law

OLDHAM MP Jim McMahon has backed a family's call for the Meningitis B vaccine to be extended to all children

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A FAMILY is going to every length to campaign for a change in law after the sudden death of their "dancing angel".

Family and friends of Limeside six-year-old Layla-Rose Ermenekli took their cause to Parliament where they lobbied MPs to champion Layla's Law.

They were backed by Oldham MP Jim McMahon who pledged to take the new law before Government by calling for a special debate on the issue.

The campaign was launched following the sudden death of Layla-Rose after she contracted meningococcal meningitis.

Layla-Rose passed away just three hours after developing symptoms in what doctors described as the "worst case of meningitis" they had ever seen.

The proposed law calls for the provision of the Meningitis B vaccine to be extended to all children. Current provision means it is not given to children under two years old.

Jim McMahon, MP for Oldham West and Royton, said: "I'm determined to fight tooth and nail for Layla's Law."

As of September 2015, babies born in England on or after July 1, 2015, are being offered the MenB vaccine and babies born on or after May 1 are being offered the vaccine as part of a one-off catch-up campaign.

However, due to insufficient supplies, Government determined in July 2016 that the MenB vaccine would not be extended to under-twos in the UK.

Now Jim McMahon is calling for the decision to be revised by bringing Layla's Law before Parliament as an Adjournment Debate.

In the initial stage this would see the Commons debate the issue without bringing a question for the House to decide.

Layla-Rose's great-uncle Stephen Carter said: "It was important that we visited Parliament to ensure that Layla's story is taken to the centre of Government. Jim McMahon has made this visit happen, and is a big support for Layla's Law.

"We spoke with Jim and he has pledged to fight alongside us to make sure our campaign is heard loud and clear by the Government."

Stephen was joined in London by 19 other campaigners dressed in Layla's Law t-shirts.

Layla-Rose's mum Kirsty Ermenekli said: "This is only the start, there's a long way to go to fight for my baby girl's legacy and to get all our kids vaccinated.

"We need as many people behind this campaign as possible. We will do this as a family for our dancing angel Layla-Rose.

"I'm asking for people to sign our petition and help us support Layla's Law."

A petition calling for the vaccine to be extended to all children has already accrued more than 600 signatures. To sign it, visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/184173.