A MUM whose 18-month-old son nearly died from a deadly form of meningitis has backed plans for a new vaccine.

When Cole Forse was taken ill on Wednesday, May 31, suffering from a high temperature and lethargy, his mum Annabel, of Victoria Terrace, Pershore, thought it was a cold.

But when she took him to her GP it was discovered that it appeared to be much worse than a sniffle, and Cole was sent straight to Worcestershire Royal Hospital. Within hours, doctors diagnosed pneumococcal meningitis, which is more life-threatening than other major types. It has a higher death rate, and leaves half of

survivors with permanent disabilities that can be as severe

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as brain damage, deafness, and cerebral palsy.

Cole was rushed to an intensive care children's unit at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire where he was placed on a ventilator.

He was transferred back down to the Royal's high dependency unit after five days where doctors continued to monitor his progress.

He was allowed home at the end of June where he is now on the road to recovery.

Now Mrs Forse, who also has twin daughters, said she does not want any other parents to go through what she did when Cole was taken ill, and is urging everyone to let their child have the vaccine when the programme starts in September. Under the nationwide catch-up campaign, every child up to the age of two will be offered the pneumococcal vaccine, which the Government hopes will save lives and prevent hundreds more cases of serious illness and disability in both the young and old, as well as reducing the need for medical care.

Mrs Forse said: "I know there are concerns that children already have too many vaccines, but I would urge all parents to let their child be vaccinated against this type of meningitis.

"I wouldn't want any parent to have to go through what I went through when Cole was ill. It was terrifying."

Philip Kirby, chief executive of the Meningitis Trust, said: "Vaccination is the only way to prevent meningitis and save lives so we're absolutely delighted with the DoH's announcement that the pneumococccal vaccine will be introduced into the childhood immunisation programme on Monday, September 4."