By DAN WOODLAND, NEWS REPORTER and SHAUN WOOLLER and CAMERON CHARTERS
The father of an 18-year-old girl who died following an outbreak of meningitis in Kent has revealed how her condition deteriorated just hours after contracting the disease.
Juliette Kenny died on Saturday March 14, one day after first showing symptoms of the deadly bug which has swept across the country, with cases confirmed in several towns in Kent and in London.
The year 13 student at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham had been 'fit, healthy and strong' before her death and had completed the practical assessment for her PE A-level on Thursday March 12.
Her father Michael Kenny first became aware that his daughter was ill when she vomited in the early hours of Friday March 13.
'In the morning on Friday, she was taken, by us, to our local emergency drop-in as a discolouration appeared on her cheeks,' Mr Kenny said.
The teen was not showing any other symptoms at the time and was given antibiotics before being taken to A&E in an ambulance.
'Juliette fought bravely for hours, but despite the fantastic NHS hospital staff fighting alongside her, meningitis took her from us less than 12 hours later,' Mr Kenny added.
'We were with her at the end, and the last sounds that she heard were the voices of those who loved her telling her how very much loved and cherished she is.'
Mr Kenny described his daughter as having 'beautifully positive energy', adding the 'devastation' of her death is 'immeasurable' and something 'no family should experience'.
In a statement, Mr Kenny said: 'We are incredibly proud parents to two wonderful daughters.
'Juliette is a force in this world. With her beautifully positive energy she spread fun, love and happiness to those around her and she continues to do so now.
'The devastation of her loss to us, her family and friends is immeasurable.
'Sharing stories of the empathy, warmth and fun that she created is helping her family and friends through at this time. Her energy continues to make the people who love her find a way.
'The illness took her from us so quickly.'
Juliette's heartbroken grandmother Linda Kenny also told the Daily Mail: 'I just can't bring myself to say anything otherwise I will cry.
'We are all on antibiotics because we were with Juliette in hospital when she passed away.'
Along with the Meningitis Research Foundation, Mr Kenny and his family are calling for the UK to take urgent action to improve access to the menB vaccination for teenagers and young people.
He said: 'No family should experience this pain and tragedy. This can be avoided. There are young people currently battling this and young people still at risk.
'As parents, we knew our children would change the world and be a force for good. The work to protect young people has started. It needs to be more.
'Juliette's impact on this world must be lasting change. Now is the time to ensure families are safe from the impact of meningitis B.'
Vinny Smith, chief executive of Meningitis Research Foundation, said in 2015 the charity's calls for the menB vaccination to be 'routinely available' on the NHS for all at-risk age groups was 'not taken forward' as it was 'judged not to be cost-effective'.
The menB jab was introduced on the NHS for babies in 2015, meaning the majority of young people born before then are not protected against it unless they have had the jab privately.
The Kenny family were not aware that the vaccination is not routinely available on the NHS for teenagers and young adults, and that to have this they would need to pay for it privately.
Mr Smith called on the Government to 'decide now to save lives' and highlighted menB's 'lifelong impact', including disabilities caused by the bug.
He said: 'When we made the case for menB vaccination to be routinely available on the NHS in 2015 for all at-risk age groups, wider protection for teenagers and young adults was not taken forward (it was judged to not be cost-effective within the criteria used at the time).
'Our concern, then and now, is that this has not fully reflected the impact of menB or the full value protection from a vaccine brings.
'It hasn't accounted for the severity of meningitis, its lifelong impact, or the trauma and bereavement experienced by families.
'People across the country will have seen that impact this week; we believe the UK Government can decide now to save lives and limit the lifelong disabilities caused by meningitis, protecting people for generations to come.'