Meningococcal is a sudden and severe disease, which can cause meningitis (an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord) and septicaemia (an infection in the bloodstream).
In many cases, children who develop meningococcal can lose limbs. In some cases, meningococcal can lead to death.
Iconic photographer Anne Geddes has joined with Meningococcal Australia, to create a photo shoot that highlights prevention of this disease – through a series of photographs of survivors.
This delicate, pastel photographs draw attention to how strong the subjects of the photos must be.
Mamamia has written about Danielle, the young woman in the first photograph, before. She was just 14 months old when her mother found her awake in the middle of the night, vomiting and with a high temperature. Now, Danielle holds an Australian record in 50 metre, and is training to complete as a dressage rider in the 2016 Rio Paralympics. You can read more about her story here.
As of March, there are vaccines available to protect against all major strains of meningococcal disease. Parents should speak with their children’s doctor.
Meningococcal Australia – Protecting our Tomorrows: Danielle (Aust) from Meningococcal Australia on Vimeo.
For more information about Meningococcal Australia, please visit www.meningococcal.org.au.
Top Comments
Plllllleeeeeeeeeaaaaaassseee can you do an article about the vaccine?? There are soapy mixed reviews. I called two peadiatritions and one said YES and one said MIXED feelings - up to u!
Please give mums and dads more info. It is not free at the moment but was just added to the vaccine free schedule in the UK.
Are there many side effects? Will we find out in ten years that the vaccine causes something? Can you interview some doctors? Professors?
I have spoken to a dozen parents of toddlers and they are just as confused as I am- desperate to protect our toddlers from this disease but terrified of trailing something that's so new!
Well said, this is exactly how I feel.
For it to be available to your kids it's already been through trials. They can't tell you any long term effects yet because it isn't that old.
this is informative from the company who made it.
http://www.novartisvaccines...
You can further your research just google bexsero in scholar and all the scholarly articles should come up for you :)
Meningococcal C has been around for about 10 years now. I received it when I was 8, am nearly 20 and no problems here!
Beautiful, just beautiful.