Parents harassed by anti-vaxxers days after their baby son died
Heartbroken parents have been harassed by anti-vaxxers for encouraging people to vaccinate their children after their own son died.
Catherine and Greg Hughes, from Western Australia, gave birth to Riley in February 2015, but he tragically died at just 32 days old from whooping cough.
Since his death, the family have campaigned to raise awareness of the dangers of whooping cough, including encouraging pregnant women to get the free booster shot offered in the third trimester.
Ms Hughes did not have the booster shot to protect Riley as it was introduced by the state government just two day after his death.
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Even though Riley did not have the shot, his parents have been called "baby-killers' by anti-vaxxers for promoting the booster shot.
“We were accused of being employees of pharmaceutical companies, we were told that our child didn’t ever exist, and we were even accused of killing Riley ourselves,” Ms Hughes told The Herald Sun.
The parents started a Facebook page called Light For Riley not long after his death and said they will continue to campaign, despite the negative response.
"I will never blame those who don't vaccinate for Riley's death. It was the bacteria that killed him, a bacteria that can cause young babies to cough and gasp and choke and die," Ms Hughes wrote.
"What I do blame the anti-vaccine lobby for is the hate they targeted our family with. For the lies they have sprouted time and time again, discrediting us and disrespecting our son's short life.
"And for deliberately trying to mislead vulnerable parents, frightening them from protecting their babies from diseases that are preventable, and as know all too well, deadly."
Last month a prominent anti-vaccine activist group from the US arrived in Australia and the Hughes family donated 200 polio vaccines in their honour.
