Toddler Who Contracted Meningococcal Disease Has Passed Away

The 16-month-old boy who contracted meningococcal disease has sadly died after his body was ravaged by the deadly virus, as parents have been warned of a shortage of vaccines for the disease.

Charlie Mason, from Adelaide, was in critical condition the day after he contracted meningococcal B the most common strain of the deadly disease. However, yesterday, Charlie lost his battle, leaving his family devastated.

His grandmum, Bianca Bais, from South Australia, has shared a heartbreaking post earlier this week, asking for prayers for Charlie, who was fighting for his life in hospital with meningococcal disease.

In the post, which has since been removed by Facebook due to complaints of nudity, Ms Bais said they thought Charlie had just contracted a tummy bug which made him ill the whole day, so they took him to Noarlunga Hospital but was cleared at 5pm and sent him home. Suddenly, Charlie’s mother, Bonnie, noticed ‘a few red dots’ on his body and thought it was chickenpox. So, they took him to Flinders hospital and within less than an hour, Charlie was put on life support and after two hours, he was rushed to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in a very critical condition.

The grandmum then called for parents to “research this ugly disease and when your child gets sick keep a close eye on them”.

However, health authorities have now reported that the vaccine against the B strain, which killed Charlie, is not available to every child because it is not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and must be given separately to routine vaccinations and paid for by parents.

ABC reported that the pharmaceutical company which provides the vaccine has admitted the increased global demand for the drug means people may miss out.

Australian Medical Association South Australia president Doctor Janice Fletcher said that those considering a vaccination will have to go on “a wait list” until the vaccine is available.

A course of the vaccine, known as Bexsero, costs around $450 – unlike the vaccination for the less prevalent C strand which is free.

A federal Health Department spokesman told The Advertiser that the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee had considered requests for strain B vaccinations to be given for free along with the strain C variety. “On each occasion, the PBAC was not able to recommend (the vaccine) Bexsero for subsidy because, based on the available evidence, it was not clear (it) offered enough protection against disease for it to be included,” he said.

The strain B vaccine is available in the UK for free for all children born after May, 1, 2015.

Sources: Dailymail.co.uk and Kidspot.com.au