Grieving mum calls for free vaccines after daughter dies from meningococcal

A grieving Queensland mum is calling on the government to provide a free Meningococcal B vaccine following the death of her daughter.

Zoe McGinty, 20, died from meningococcal in September, 2017.

Her mum, Kirsten, said on the day of her death she went to the gym, ate protein pancakes and then felt unwell with symptoms similar to gastro.

The 20-year-old deteriorated around bedtime.

Ms McGinty said her daughter held her hand out, begging her to stay by her side.

“‘Mummy please don’t leave me’, and she was holding out her hand and after that she never spoke again,” Ms McGinty said.

The young woman had no rash or fever and no one knew she had meningococcal, including doctors.

By 2am the following morning, Zoe was dead.

Her devastated mum now wants “all ages, all strains” vaccinated.

Meningococcal B strain cases have doubled in five years but the $400 vaccine isn’t on the immunisation schedule.

The Federal Government can’t legally add it to the program until the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee recommends it.

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It has knocked back the vaccine three times because the group of doctors and health economists wasn’t satisfied it would be effective for everyone.

Instead, it recommended a trial.

Currently, all Australian babies are entitled to free vaccines for strains A, C, W and Y.

However, the South Australian government will provide the B strain vaccine for free for babies from October.

There are calls for the Queensland government to follow suit but the health department said the best policy is a nationally consistent vaccination program.