Mother’s harrowing warning as 11 week-old son dies

A mother is warning Australians to do this one simple thing, as the death of her 77 day old infant could have been prevented.

Samantha Miller, 37, from Bathurst NSW, is warning Australians across the nation to get vaccinated this flu season so they do not lose their loved ones the way she lost her son.

“I came down ill, quite ill, so I ended up in hospital, and then we got a phone call saying he’d been brought into hospital not breathing, and we found out that he’d passed away,” she said to news.com.au.

Her son, Declan, was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital while Ms Miller was also sick with the flu.

“It took a little while to get some autopsy results … ended up coming back with bronchial pneumonia caused by H1N1 swine flu,” she said.

Declan was just 11 weeks old, and doctors told Ms Miller, “he could have passed due to me touching a shopping trolley and passing it on.”

Samantha Miller is urging people to get vaccinated, after her two week old infant died from exposure to influenza, which could have been prevented.

His death was a shock, as his symptoms seemed to blow up overnight.

“He had seen his pediatrician the day before and he had no signs of illness other than a bit of a snotty nose,” Ms Miller said.

“I actually have a photo of him asleep on my dad’s chest the night before because my parents had him when I was in hospital, and he looked healthy.”

It’s now been more than a decade, but Ms Miller still struggles with losing her infant son.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my entire life. I would not wish it on anybody … it’s been 13 years and it hurts as if it was yesterday,” she said.

It haunts her that if she “had the education that I have now, (it) could have been so easily prevented”.

It’s been 13 years since her son Declan passed, but Ms Miller said “it hurts as if it was yesterday” and she now advocates for Australians to be educated about the importance of vaccines.

Ms Miller is now dedicated to educating Australians about the importance of vaccinations, so no one has to experience what she did.

“I know what it’s like to lose a child to influenza and vaccination can help prevent other families going through what we have been through for the past 13 years,” she said.

There is not enough education on the importance of vaccinations, and the severity of influenza, which is fuelling misinformation, according to Ms Miller.

“Why are (some people) pushing for anti-vaccination when the numbers are there?”

“They need to look at the data and get a vaccination, I mean it’s easy enough … take ten minutes out of your life to get the vaccination,” she urged.

“Anyone who ends up in hospital is putting a strain on the health services that are already under strain.”

Ms Miller said vaccines are crucial to preventing influenza fatalities, and we all have a moral responsibility to protect the most vulnerable members of our society, like baby Declan.

She urged the government to increase vaccination education and said increasing subsidies would mean “there’s absolutely no reason” why anyone would not get their shots.

“Let’s get down there and bring these vaccination numbers up and bring the cases down,” Ms Miller urged.

Terry White Chemmart Chief Pharmacist Brenton Hart agreed that getting vaccinated is becoming increasingly important, as influenza cases are already skyrocketing before this year’s flu season even begins.

“We’ve seen an unusually high number of cases throughout January, February and March, compared to the same time last year,” Mr Hart told news.com.au.

“(It) makes vaccination even more important … no two flu seasons are ever the same … and the simplest thing you can do is have a safe and effective vaccine to keep you and your loved ones protected.

Terry White Chemmart Chief Pharmacist Brenton Hart said vaccination is getting increasingly important, and influenza cases are set to be high for this year’s flu season.

“Vaccination rates are heading in the wrong direction here in Australia … so the call to action is for Australians, six months and up to go and get their vaccination in 2025 to address it.”

If vaccination rates continue to decline, including for other diseases, the health of Australians will begin to crumble, according to Mr Hart.

“We don’t want to end up in a society where a number of potentially serious respiratory illnesses are sort of widespread and rampant … roll up your sleeve and get your vaccination,” he said.

Mr Hart urges people to speak to their local healthcare professional if they are hesitant, and to visit their local chemist for a convenient, but potentially lifesaving, jab.

Mr Hart is aware that misinformation around vaccines is spreading on social media sites, and said that “the best thing that anyone can do” if they come across something that “doesn’t sound quite right” is to have a “face-to-face conversation with a local health provider … and find out what is fact”.

“If someone is reading this and is not sure whether a particular vaccination is right for them or their child, the best thing they can do is have a conversation with their health care provider,” he said.

People should get a vaccine “whether … from your GP, a local nurse or your local community pharmacist, the best vaccination is the one that ends up in your body,” Mr Hart said.

“Your local pharmacist is open across normally seven days of trade in convenient hours where you can go before or after work, take the kids along after school and get your flu vaccinations in one hit.”

Originally published as Mother’s harrowing warning as 11 week-old son dies