Grieving dad’s message for anti-immunisation parents after whooping cough death

THE father of a four-week-old baby who died from whooping cough has a message for parents who refuse to vaccinate their children.

THE father of a four-week-old baby who died from whooping cough has a message for parents who refuse to vaccinate their children.

“If you’re anti-immunisation/anti-logic/anti-duty of care to your society as a whole, then feel free to take a look at this picture of my son in hospital right now at 4 weeks old with whooping cough — and then come and tell me how you think immunisation is a bad thing.”

‘Please keep him in your thoughts’ ... Riley’s parents posted this picture while he was fighting whooping cough.

Greg Hughes wrote this message with a picture of his son Riley four days ago. Yesterday, the infant tragically lost his fight with the disease.

Riley John Hughes died from pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, on Tuesday afternoon in Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth on Tuesday.

Riley was too young to have started the infant vaccination program that might have protected him from the disease. In WA, babies start to be immunised from two months of age.

His is the first death from whooping cough in Western Australia since 2011.

Riley’s grieving parents have said they don’t want their son’s death to be “in vain” and want to “be the drivers of change” surrounding the treatment and management of whooping cough.

Riley died in his parents arms at four weeks old.

Mum Catherine Hughes shared news of Riley’s passing with her Facebook followers on Tuesday.

“We are devastated to let everyone know our gorgeous sweet month-old son Riley John Hughes lost his battle with whooping cough at Princess Margaret Hospital earlier today,” she wrote.

“He passed away peacefully in our arms after a tough fight. The staff at PMH were amazing and did everything they could to save his little life but the whooping cough was too severe.

“RIP Riley. Forever in our hearts.”

Catherine’s post has now been shared more than 7,500 times, striking a chord with mother’s around the nation.

“Vaccinating your children doesn’t just protect them, it helps to protect those that are still too young for their needles or those that can’t for medical reasons. RIP little guy,” a Brisbane mum wrote.

His parents have shared pictures online.

Riley’s death ‘won’t be in vain’.

Last week when Riley was admitted to hospital, Catherine urged her friends to consider immunising their children.

“If you haven’t been immunised against whooping cough (pertussis) please consider getting it done,” she wrote.

“Heartbreaking to watch 4 week old Riley struggle with it at PMH please keep him in your thoughts!!!”

The family has now set up a Facebook page in Riley’s honour which they hope to use to spread their message and drive change.

The Department of Health says it does not know how the child contracted the respiratory disease, also known as pertussis. Whooping cough is part of the routine vaccination schedule for babies at two months, four months and six months of age.

According to the department’s notifiable disease report, there have been 244 cases of whooping cough in WA in the year to date, compared to 292 cases for the corresponding period last year and 232 cases in the first 10 weeks of 2013.

Originally published as Grieving dad’s message for anti-immunisation parents after whooping cough death