Family campaigns for meningococcal vaccine five years after Skylar Lawrence’s death

The family of a two-year-old girl who died from a vaccine preventable disease are urging other families to put their children’s health first.

LR: 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

Sally Lawrence finds it hard to believe almost five years have passed since she lost her little girl.

Skylar was just three months shy of her third birthday when her life was cut short by meningococcal B.

“The whole thing is surreal, since the day it happened until now,” she said.

“It’s hard to believe really that she’s been gone for five years.”

In those years since October 15, 2017, the Lawrence family has campaigned hard for more people to get vaccinated against the contagious virus.

“It’s a vaccine preventable disease but it’s just the B strain isn’t available for free,” Ms Lawrence said.

It's been five years since Skylar Lawrence lost her life from meningococcal B. Her brother and sister Navaro and Rhainer team up with friends like Juno Maglieri to make paper lanterns to celebrate the lives of Australian kids who have died from the disease. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“We don’t want any other families to lose someone from a vaccine preventable disease.”

A man in his 30s this year died from the disease.

Ms Lawrence said a study into the vaccine in the NT was a welcome step that had been interrupted by Covid.

“The resources that were dedicated to that program had to be redirected during Covid so they have extended the study,” she said.

“They’ll be using the research from that to look at the benefits of the meningococcal vaccine with preventing gonorrhoea.”

She said while Covid proved disruptive in that way, she also hoped it had a positive impact on the uptake of vaccines.

“I hope to think through sharing our story it has had an impact and I think Covid might have helped that too,” she said.

“We’re hoping Covid being here has made other people more aware of what other diseases are out there.”

As the fifth anniversary of their daughter and sister’s death approaches, the Lawrences take the opportunity to remind each other about the impact Skylar had in their lives.

“The kids know that the day Skylar passed is Skylar’s anniversary day and we go away that day,” Ms Lawrence said.

Skylar’s dad Ash, brother Navaro, mum Sally and sister Rhainer. Picture: Supplied

“We obviously don’t want her to be forgotten.”

Along with a group of Skylar’s childcare friends, her siblings celebrate her memory by making and decorating paper lanterns and boats to sail at the Amber NT’s Light the Lagoon event.

Ms Lawrence said she had been attending the event for three years.

“You don’t realise how many other people have gone through the same thing,” she said.

“It’s quite a confronting thing but you realise you’re not alone — there’s a lot of other people who have gone through a loss.”

In Skylar’s memory, Ray’s Cafe and Sweet Brew in Stuart Park will give out free babyccinos on October 15.

Originally published as Family campaigns for meningococcal vaccine five years after Skylar Lawrence’s death