Meningococcal B survivors push government for free vaccine

A vaccine exists for the most common strain of deadly meningococcal disease, yet the B vaccine is the only one left off the free government vaccine schedule. Now survivors of this dreadful disease are pleading with PM Scott Morrison to act.

• Why did our son die? Grieving parents’ plea to PM
• Meningococcal B vaccine would save ‘only’ nine lives

Some lost limbs. Some lost fingers or toes. Others scraped though unharmed. But all were at death’s door, and all could have been spared the trauma they experienced by a simple jab.

Now these survivors of the deadly meningococcal B virus want action.

They are writing to Prime Minister Scott Morrison (inset above) because while there is a vaccine to prevent meningococcal B, unlike all the other strains of the disease it is not available for free on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule.

They believe that if the Bexsero vaccine had been available, toddler Donald Peach would be alive today.

Donald Peach died after contracting meningococcal B disease.

His parents, Amy and Donald Peach, of Quirindi, south of Tamworth, watched helplessly in July as their cherished son died within 24 hours of contracting meningococcal B.

They thought he was covered by the A, C, Y, W vaccine and had no idea there was even a B strain, or that a separate vaccine was available.

“I’m angry I didn’t know about it,” Mrs Peach said.

“The B strain … I had never ever heard of it. We would have got it done straight away.”

MORE FROM JANE HANSEN:

Push for NDIS access for disabled senior citizens

New breathalyser to test for cancer, diabetes

The Sunday Telegraph has campaigned to get Bexsero on the free schedule because it has been registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration as safe and effective to help prevent Invasive Meningococcal B disease since 2013.

But in the same year, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee knocked back Bexsero after it concluded it would cost the government $400 million to vaccinate more than 4 million children and adolescents to prevent 224 cases of the disease and nine deaths.

Meningococcal B survivors want the vaccine available for free. From left: Bernadette Giribaldi, Juttima Chinnasri and Sarah Baker. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

It was knocked back two more times despite B strain being the most common form of meningococcal disease and the one most likely to kill children.

A new submission will be presented to the PBAC by makers GSK in November.

The family of Bernadette Giribaldi said this time round the PBAC needs to consider the lifelong costs of dealing with the disability caused by meningococcal B.

Just before her third birthday, Bernadette contracted meningococcal B.

Now 12, she has lost both her legs below the knee, most of the fingers on her left hand and parts of her fingers on her right.

Bernadette Giribaldi lost her legs to meningococcal when she was three.

Bernadette Giribaldi has to wear prosthetic legs. Picture: Richard Dobson

She was left with zero kidney function and needs dialysis.

Her parents say the costs of her treatment continue to mount.

“We are constantly going to and from hospital and she has a brain injury that affects her ability at school so she needs a teacher’s aide,” Mr Giribaldi said.

“Then there are the prosthetic legs and rehabilitation which cost a bomb. She will need brace rods in and out of her arms.

“We only just saved our daughter, it comes on so quick and the only cure is prevention. The vaccine is the only way to beat it.”

SURVIVORS’ PLEA TO PM

Skye Baker agrees. Her daughter Sarah contracted B strain five years ago and was lucky to escape uninjured.

“I can’t understand why they single out one strain not on the schedule.

“It doesn’t make sense,” Mrs Baker, of Castlecrag, said.

Sarah Baker in hospital after being diagnosed with meningococcal B.

Sarah Baker was lucky to escape without injuries. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

B strain has affected 20 people this year in NSW compared to seven cases of W and four cases of Y strain and no cases of C or A.

Nationally there has been almost double the amount of B strain than W.

Juttima Chinnasri, 28, now faces a lifetime of disability after losing her legs and all her fingers to the B strain in October.

Juttima Chinnasri in hospital after contracting meningococcal B.

Juttima Chinnasri lost both her legs and fingers to meningococcal B. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Life has changed a lot, I rely on other people and I will never get my legs back,” she said.

Mr Morrison said: “We want to do everything possible to help all those people who face meningococcal and we’ll get it listed on the ­National Immunisation Program as a matter of priority as soon as the ­independent doctors (on the PBAC) who make the decision on its effectiveness give it the green light.”

Originally published as Meningococcal B survivors push government for free vaccine