Fears meningococcal cases will continue to rise unless barriers to B strain vaccine addressed
Nicole Hammat's son Khye died from meningococcal disease in December 2021. (ABC News: Ben Pettitt)
Nicole Hammat carries her grief every day since her son Khye died from meningococcal disease almost two years ago.
After seeing how quickly her son succumbed to the disease, the South Australian woman wants young people to be more aware and hopes the B strain vaccine will be accessible to more people.
"This disease doesn't give you the opportunity to say goodbye," she said.
"I could never tell you how much I miss him and how much it hurts your heart, it's just like … walking around with a broken heart everyday."
Khye Hammat was 20 years old when he died in December 2021.
The day before he was admitted to hospital, he felt sick and lethargic, complained of stiffness in his neck and had a headache.
Nicole with her son Kyhe, who died aged 20. (Supplied: Nicole Hammat)
Ms Hammat took Khye to the Mount Barker Hospital in the Adelaide Hills but was not allowed to enter the emergency department due to COVID restrictions.
"That was the last time I said 'I love you' and he walked through the door and that was it," she said.
When she next heard from the hospital, Khye had had seizures, was unconscious and was being flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he later died.
'Chasing our tails'
Meningococcal cases in Australia have risen by almost 50 per cent, from 45 cases between January to June last year, to 67 cases in the first half of 2023.
Dr Rodney Pearce, deputy chair on the board of the Immunisation Coalition, said a "complete, fully vaccinated population hasn't been part of the Australian experience".
Different strains of the disease and the varying vaccination programs in states and territories could be why there are more cases, he said.
"Australia has gradually changed its vaccine programs to catch up, but there still is no single vaccine that covers all of the strains that are causing problems," Dr Pearce said.
"All of those complexities mean there are breakthroughs, there are outbreaks, and we haven't got on top of them in Australia to the best of our ability."
Khye Hammat was admitted to hospital but died the next day. (Supplied: Nicole Hammat)
Under the National Immunisation Program, one-year-olds receive the vaccinations for the A, W, Y and C strains of meningococcal while only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children under two years old and people at increased risk due to specific medical conditions are eligible for a free B vaccine.
South Australia, and now Queensland, are the only states providing free vaccines against the B strain to more children and teenagers.
Meningococcal cases in South Australia reduced more than other states after its meningococcal B vaccine program was introduced in 2018 to include children under the age of four and young people aged between 17 to 20 years old.
SA Health says the state-funded vaccine program "has likely contributed to the reduction in cases in South Australia", with more than 80 per cent of children aged 13 to 15 months and more than 55 per cent of Year 10 students fully vaccinated against the B strain.
Dr Pearce said Australia have been "chasing our tails slightly" as not all states and territories cover the B vaccine, not to mention up till 15 years ago, babies were only vaccinated against the C strain.
"Really, the question that hasn't been advertised enough is 'have I been completely vaccinated with what's available?'" he said.
"Until we've got a single vaccine that will cover all the strains, we're going to have holes in our vaccination coverage. We're going to have gaps which allows this to be an ongoing challenge for our health system to manage."
Vaccine cost a barrier
Meningococcal is a rare but potentially fatal disease that can result in severe scarring, loss of limbs and brain damage.
"Because it presents like a common cold or just a mild illness and then progresses rapidly, the challenge is [it's] very difficult to overcome once the illness starts," Dr Pearce said.
"So it goes back – prevention is the only option we got before the illness.
"Any individual who wants to protect themselves against meningococcal B would actually have to look at that as a specific vaccine because it's not included in the routine programs in other states."
But cost could be a barrier for families — the B vaccine consists of two jabs that cost about $100 each.
Ms Hammat said the meningococcal B vaccine should be added to the National Immunisation Program.
Khye, pictured with his family, on his birthday. (Supplied: Nicole Hammat)
"I think it is very expensive for a vaccination and it could be the difference between someone deciding to do it or not," she said.
Ms Hammat said vaccination should not be mandatory but encouraged parents to consider getting the vaccination for their children to prevent meningococcal.
"Considering what my eyes have seen and what happened to my son, to see someone die from that disease, I couldn't tell you or put into words how devastating and how serious it is,"she said.
"I think the age group, people in Khye's age — 15 to 20 year olds — are highly susceptible and kids that age are probably not as aware as they should be.
"I think it's really important that kids are educated because that's the time of their lives where they are going out, hanging out with other people, possibly sharing drinks, kissing … and that's how it can be shared."