Angels Founder Frankie Milley is Encouraged by CDC's First Regional Meeting on Infant Meningitis Vaccines

CONCORD, N.H., June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday held the first of four regional meetings to gather public opinion about adding meningitis vaccines to the current infant immunization schedule.

Meningitis Angels Founder and National Director Frankie Milley attended and voiced her support for protecting infants from this deadly disease through vaccination:

"I want to thank the CDC and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services for inviting me to participate in yesterday's discussion. It was a great opportunity to bring together all points of view on this important issue. I'm looking forward to attending the remaining regional meetings in Seattle, Chicago and Denver, which take place over the next few weeks.

"Meningococcal disease remains one of the most deadly vaccine-preventable diseases. And infants are still among the highest at risk for meningococcal disease.  While too many die, too many others are left with serious life-long debilitations. But by making vaccines available to infants, we are making life-saving strides against this disease.

"Now is an extremely important moment in the fight against meningococcal disease. With the recent FDA approval of a vaccine for children as young as 9 months old, and two additional vaccines for children as young as 2 months old being considered for approval – as well as a Group B meningococcal vaccine in the pipeline – my 13-year fight to eliminate this horrendous disease in the U.S. will hopefully soon end in victory.  I am encouraged by the positive response towards vaccination from the participants and observers at yesterday's regional meeting.

"If recent meningitis survivor Sakura Barden had been vaccinated, she would not have lost her fingers, her toes or her arm. This disease is deadly, it's debilitating and it's preventable.  If infants and children had a voice and a choice, they would choose to be protected.    

"On June 22, I will be in Atlanta as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices discusses recommending meningitis vaccines for high-risk infants, as young as 9 months old.  How fitting, that I will stand before ACIP on the 13th anniversary of my son Ryan's death and comment on the very disease that took his life."

To schedule interviews with Frankie Milley, or to interview a Meningitis Angel in your local area, please send request to [email protected].

For more information on the three remaining regional meetings in Seattle, Chicago and Denver, as well as facts on meningitis and information on how to get involved and encourage the CDC to do the right thing to protect infants from this deadly disease, please visit www.protectinfantsnow.org or check out the Protect Infants Now fan page on Facebook.

About Meningitis Angels

Meningitis Angels is a national nonprofit organization founded in memory of Ryan Wayne Milley, the only child of Bob and Frankie Milley. Ryan's life was taken at age 18, as a result of meningococcal meningitis/meningococcemia.  Meningitis Angels is dedicated to the support of victims, of bacterial meningitis and their families. While helping families cope with the loss of a family member we also offer some hands on support for those children affected with meningitis, funding available.  

We educate the public, health professionals, schools and universities on not only meningitis but other vaccine preventable diseases and the preventions including vaccines, though personal stories, our educational brochures and videos.

SOURCE Meningitis Angels