Push for more Meningococcal vacines on the anniversary of Skylar’s death

The anniversary of little Skylar’s death has renewed a push for parents to vaccinate their children against Meningococcal Type B.

Ash and Sally Lawrence with their children Rhainer and Navaro remembering their sister Skylar four years after she died from meningococcal disease. Picture: Amanda Parkinson

SHE was known to her family as ‘Lala’, a cuddly kid that loved the affection of her parents, but on October 15, 2018 Skylar Lawrence died in just a matter of hours.

Skylar was diagnosed with Meningococcal Type B and placed into a coma only moments after been admitted to hospital.

“We took Skylar to hospital at 8pm after finding a bloody bruise on her body but she wasn’t responding to treatment,” Ms Lawrence said.

“At 11pm the disease took over our precious Skylar’s little body and she turned into our star.”

The family tells a harrowing tale of a disease that took their little girl from jumping in swimming holes one day to no longer with them the next.

“In a nutshell we lost our Skylar within a matter of hours as this disease didn’t show any concerning symptoms until it was too late.”

But the family are hoping their story can strengthen vaccination rates against meningococcal by reminding parents of the virulence of the disease.

“Information is power and it’s really important to education yourself and make decisions to protect your family,” Ms Lawrence said.

“Vaccines provide us protection against deadly diseases such as Meningococcal B, there is the National Immunisation Program (NIP) where at certain stages of life people can access the vaccines we need.”

Ms Lawrence said unfortunately the Meningococcal B vaccine was not on the NIP but parents can protect their children against it by asking their family doctors about it, as it was available by script on the private market.

Currently, South Australia is rolling out a trial to see if the Meningococcal B vaccine can also provide protection against gonorrhoea.

Young people aged between 14 – 19 living in the NT can be part of this trial there are two clinics set up in Palmerston and at Charles Darwin University.

Mrs Lawrence said the family lived with the grief of losing their child.

Amber NT are hosting their annual Reflection Event on Sunday October 17 in honour of Skylar.

While Rays Patisserie and Cafe and Sweet Brew and Co in Stuart Park are offering free baby chinos today to raise awareness of Skylar’s story.