Covid-19 vaccinations: Please, get the coronavirus jab so our loved ones have not died in vain

The South Australian families who lost their loved ones to Covid-19 have made an impassioned plea to those who are yet to be vaccinated to get it done so their relatives have not died in vain.

Sandi Todd, with photographs of her husband Mal; Stephen Lavender with a picture of his wife Linda; Veronica Leaney with a picture of her husband Roger and Elisabetta Ferraro, and her husband Frank. The spouses all died from Covid-19 in the Royal Adelaide Hospital's Intensive Care Unit in April last year. Picture Matt Turner.

The South Australian families who lost their loved ones to Covid-19 have united to speak out on the importance of vaccination, to ensure their relatives have not died in vain.

Francesco “Frank” Ferraro, 75, Linda Lavender, 62, Malcolm “Mal” Todd, 76, and Roger Leaney, 74, all died over six harrowing days in April last year.

The devoted grandparents died in isolation in the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s intensive care unit after suffering catastrophic organ failures while in induced comas.

They are the state’s only Covid-related deaths to date.

While none had access to any coronavirus vaccines, their families say they would have eagerly been vaccinated had they had the opportunity.

Francesco Ferraro celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary in February 2019. Picture: Supplied by family

Linda Lavender pictured on the Ruby Princess before she died from Covid-19. Picture: Supplied by family

The virus survivors, who are all vaccinated, as are their wider families, have united to implore people to take the opportunity to get the vaccine.

Almost 60 per cent of SA adults are fully vaccinated and more than three quarters have had one dose.

The government has promised a major easing of restrictions will occur at 80 per cent fully vaccinated.

Stephen Lavender, 68, of Morphett Vale, urged people to get the jab so his wife of 38 years “didn’t die in vain”.

He said people were dying from the disease, or suffering from long-term effects, in “ways that cannot be considered acceptable”.

He questioned those who refuse to get a jab – yet consume junk food.

“The big error in this thinking is that what you consume as food won’t hurt innocent family, friends or others – Covid-19 will,” he said.

Mal Todd who died from Covid-19 in April last year in the Royal Adelaide Hospital's, Intensive Care Unit. Picture: Supplied by family

Roger Leaney died in April 2020 after contracting Covid-19 on the Ruby Princess cruise ship. Roger on his 70th birthday at Barossa Brewing Co. Picture: Supplied by family

Veronica Leaney, 73, of Valley View, said having a choice of jab was her dream.

“We did not have an opportunity to have a vaccine and people do have that now,” she said. “The difference it could have made to Roger is something I think about. There are vaccines now – so why wouldn’t you take it?”

Sandi Todd, 75, of Barmera, said it was “the unvaccinated that are getting so sick and dying” interstate.

“I don’t understand the lack of logic as to why they wouldn’t get vaccinated,” she said.

“It’s a very high percentage of people in ICU who have not been vaccinated. To me, that speaks for itself.”

Speaking on behalf of her Campbelltown-based mother Elisabetta, 79, Enza Ferarro, 50, said she appreciated people had a choice but the past 18 months had been hard.

“Watching dad in ICU last year fundamentally affected my view of this virus and how it can horribly remove a loved one from your life,” she said.

“While we all talk about freedom and holidays, I still wonder what it would be like to see my dad’s name come up... and to chat to him again.”