Parents of Kyle Davis, who contracted meningococcal B, call for free vaccine

A northern beaches couple are calling for children in NSW to be eligible for a free meningococcal B vaccine after their son was lucky to survive the deadly disease after contracting it from a mystery carrier.

Jeanette and Peter Davis. Picture: (AAP Image / Julian Andrews)

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The parents of a northern beaches teenager who contracted a bacterial disease that strikes so quickly you “can be healthy at breakfast and dead by dinner” are calling for the NSW Government to pay for all children to be vaccinated against it.

Jeanette and Peter Davis, of Manly, said their soccer-loving son Kyle, 18, contracted meningococcal B-strain from a mystery carrier in January.

They said the speed and ferocity of the disease was terrifying and that within hours of the symptoms appearing — a temperature, aching limbs and nausea — he was fighting for his life.

Kyle Davis, 18, (left) of Fairlight, who was discharged from hospital on his brother Gabe's 15th birthday. Pictured with Gabe (centre) and older brother Zac, 21. Picture: Supplied

Their story follows a new push by Meningococcal Australia to protect all children and teens in NSW by including the B-strain in the school vaccination program.

The NSW Government currently pays for the vaccine for the less common strains A, C, W and Y.

At the moment the only protection against the B-strain is an expensive private vaccine, which costs around $270. In South Australia children get the B-strain jab.

While meningococcal B-strain is rare, it can be deadly.

The latest statistics show that nine people in the Northern Sydney Local Health District have contracted meningococcal B-strain since 2015 and 130 across NSW.

Kyle was treated at the Northern Beaches Hospital. Picture: Julie Cross.

Typically the majority make a full recovery, but 10 per cent die and 20 per cent have long term complications including loss of limbs, hearing and vision loss and cognitive issues.

Mrs Davis said their son was in “excruciating pain from the sepsis”.

“He was being so stoic and brave,” she said.

“We were just encouraging him, but at one point he said, ‘I’m not sure I can fight this anymore’. It was awful.”

Mrs Davis said there were times in the first 24 hours they thought Kyle may die or lose limbs, and then later that he might suffer permanent injury to his heart or joints.

However, he is now at home and expected to make a full recovery.

“When I was watching my child fight for his life I thought if he died I would never be able to forgive myself knowing that a vaccine could have prevented it,” Mrs Davis said.

“That’s why I want to let people know it is available.”

The disease is spread by saliva droplets which is why children and young people are more likely to contract it.

ANOTHER CASE

Mr and Mrs Davis assisted the Department of Health to trace people Kyle was in contact within the last 10 days of falling ill however a carrier could not be identified.

Around 20 per cent of the population — healthy carriers — have the bacteria in their nose and backs of their throats with no issues.

“The alarming thing is that there was nothing he did wrong or could have done differently to avoid it apart from having the vaccine,” Mrs Davis said.

Since Kyle’s diagnosis at least twelve friends and family members have paid for the private vaccine which comes in two doses and costs around $135 per dose.

Mr Davis said the whole episode was traumatic for all the family, including their two other children.

The Davis family are calling for a Meningococcal vaccine to be free for all NSW children. Picture: iStock

“It’s one of those things where you think it will never happen to you,” he said.

The couple say that the quick thinking actions of a Health Direct nurse who asked Mrs Davis to check Kyle’s pulse and ordered an ambulance straight away and the speedy diagnosis by the Emergency staff at Northern Beaches Hospital, under Dr James Gaston and Dr Matt Morgan, director of ICU saved Kyle’s life.

“We cannot thank enough the brilliant doctors and nurses at the new Northern Beaches Hospital,” Mr Davis said.

“Put simply, Kyle received the best possible care you could ever hope for.”

Eliza Ault Connell, paralympian and who now raises awareness of meningococcal disease.

Eliza Ault Connell, of Meningococcal Australia, who lost both legs and some fingers after contracting the B-Strain when she was 16, is also calling for the vaccine to be available to all.

“All strains of meningococcal can be deadly,” she said.

“There’s no mild cases, you will die without treatment.

“You can be healthy at breakfast and dead by dinner.”

A NSW Health spokesperson said the South Australian Government has funded a meningococcal B vaccination program in response to local disease patterns and more severe health outcomes from meningococcal B disease observed in that state.

“NSW Health understands that the Australian Government will reconsider funding of meningococcal B vaccine if the manufacturer is able to provide evidence to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee of its cost effectiveness,” the spokesman said.

“In the meantime, NSW Health will continue to closely follow the pattern of meningococcal B disease in NSW and respond based on the best available evidence.”