Heartbroken mum calls for vaccines to be funded after teen's sudden death

A devastated mother is calling for nan meningococcal B vaccine to beryllium made disposable to each children and teenagers, aft her 16-year-old boy died abruptly past week.

Melbourne mum Norliah Syer-Peterson said her boy Levi fell sick pinch what appeared to beryllium gastro-like symptoms connected Tuesday, September 23, earlier his information deteriorated rapidly. 

Levi, who was a Year 10 student astatine St Francis Xavier College successful Beaconsfield, appeared perfectly happy and patient successful nan morning, his mother told 9news.com.au.

"I had dropped him disconnected to do immoderate activity pinch my brother, who is simply a removalist," Syer-Peterson said.

"We were joking around, and we were talking astir really we were going to person a mum and boy nosy time during nan holidays."

However, erstwhile Levi came location that afternoon, he complained of having a stiff neck.

"He was successful nan truck, and he said he fell asleep, and that's not different to get a stiff cervix if you're lying weirdly successful a truck," Syer-Peterson said.

Levi's mother said she gave him immoderate h2o and ran him a bath. 

"He refused to eat, and he eats for illustration 10,000 meals a day, truthful that was strange," she added.

Levi told his mother that he felt nauseous, truthful she gave him a bucket and he went to bed.

Hours later, nan family was woken astatine astir 1.30am by a large banging sound.

Levi was vomiting successful nan bathroom.

"He was delirious, and nan deliriousness was concerning," Syer-Peterson said

"He was conscionable mumbling worldly and talking astir a personification he doesn't moreover know." 

Now alarmed, Syer-Peterson called triple zero and, erstwhile paramedics arrived, they instantly administered antibiotics.

"They said, 'It looks for illustration he's sewage an infection.' But past he started complaining astir having a sore leg, and they were trying to get fluids into him," his mother said, adding Levi had a somesthesia of 41 degrees.

"He said, 'Am I going to die', and we each said, 'No, no, no.'"

The paramedics rushed him to nan intensive attraction portion astatine Monash Children's Hospital.

"He went consecutive into nan ICU unit. There were astir apt 40 professionals successful location moving connected him, doctors, nurses, group monitoring him. 

"It was afloat on, for illustration thing retired of a nightmare movie."

Levi developed purple spots each complete his skin, and past his bosom stopped.

The much-loved teen died astatine astir 7.30am past Wednesday, little than 24 hours aft he first fell ill.

Syer-Peterson said her son's abrupt decease had near nan family reeling.

"He was conscionable nan astir gentle, kind, loving, sweet, beautiful boy," she said of her son.

"He utilized to believe a batch for people. He loved basketball, and he played netball pinch 1 of his girlfriends."

Levi had conscionable gotten his learner driver's licence and had been engaged making plans for nan twelvemonth ahead, his mother said.

"He had braces connected that he was going to get disconnected later this year. He was doing his deb adjacent year, successful March," she said.

Tests person confirmed Levi died of sepsis caused by meningococcal B bacteria.

Like astir Year 10 students successful Victoria, Levi received a free meningococcal vaccine astatine school, which covers strains A, C, W and Y.

However, meningococcal B requires a abstracted vaccine, which is only included successful nan National Immunisation Program for at-risk groups, specified arsenic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants.

After lobbying by aesculapian experts and advocates, immoderate Australian states - Queensland, South Australia and nan Northern Territory - person chosen to money their ain meningococcal B vaccination programs to make nan vaccines free for each children and teens.

However, Victoria, NSW, nan ACT and Tasmania are yet to do so.

Syer-Peterson said she was now making it her ngo to lobby for meningococcal B vaccines to beryllium made disposable free of charge.

"I would opportunity that it is ridiculous that this is not funded. People, normal Australians, can't spend to salary for it," she said, adding that it ne'er moreover occurred to her to get Levi nan other vaccination.

The Australian Technical Group connected Immunisation (ATAGI), which advises nan wellness curate connected nan National Immunisation Program, recommended nan meningococcal B vaccine beryllium fixed to infants, young children and adolescents successful 2014.

A Department of Health spokesperson told 9news.com.au nan inclusion of immoderate vaccine connected nan national programme was contingent connected a affirmative proposal from nan Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), based connected an appraisal of objective and cost-effectiveness. 

"To date, nan PBAC has not received an exertion from pharmaceutical companies seeking expanded eligibility for meningococcal B vaccine," nan spokesperson said.

There person been 13 cases of meningococcal B successful Victoria truthful acold this year.

A spokesperson for Victoria's Health Department said: "The Chief Health Officer monitors nan prevalence of meningococcal cases successful Victoria, which informs their independent wellness proposal connected vaccination settings.

"The Commonwealth's Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee does not presently urge a meningococcal B vaccine for nan broader community."