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A Geraldton mother who was told to "bid farewell to her daughter" when she was touched by the deadly meningococcal disease urges parents to take advantage of a recently renewed free vaccination program.
Chelsea Cocking said that her eight – month – old daughter Tahlea woke up at 4 am one day last month, looking pale and sick. "I just knew that something was wrong with her," she said.
"(We) took her to the hospital and she was purple in 40 minutes."
They were transported to Perth by the Royal Flight Doctors Department and Ms. Cocking was told to say goodbye.
Miraculously, Tahlea is beaten but will lose her toes and fingers.
Ms. Cocking stated that her daughter was facing a life of rehabilitation and physiotherapy and that her family would have to move to Perth.
"It affected her legs, arms and hands," she said. "His leg has been much worse, so we're not sure how his legs will go … if they can be saved. She had seizures, so it was a bit hard and she had brain damage, so it did not just affect her limbs. "
The mother of three said she did not want other families to go through the same ordeal and encouraged them to take advantage of the state government's ACWY vaccination program, which had been extended to the end of next year.
Ms. Cocking stated that she was aware of the program but that she did not know that her daughter could have been vaccinated privately, for a fee.
More than 76,000 children ages one to four in Washington State had a free jab, but 61,000 still do not have one. Of 36 cases of meningococcal disease this year, 17 involved children under five.
WA Health Minister Roger Cook said the program would also be extended to six-week-old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who account for more than 90 per cent of under-five cases. Immunizations in WA are also free for 15 to 19 year olds.
Meningitis Center Australia director Lisa D'Cruz said there was a need to increase awareness of the program as many doctors and nurses did not know the vaccine was available.
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