THE heartbroken father of a six-month-old baby boy who died from meningococcal B-strain 12 months ago says the loss of his beloved son has been “shattering” for his family.
Nathan Braddock has spoken out about the tragedy ahead of the 12 month anniversary of Jordan’s death.
Jordan died at the Mount Gambier Hospital on March 18 last year just hours after showing signs of illness.
His tragic death led to an outpouring of grief by the community, a rush on vaccinations at the doctors clinics as well as the launch of a petition.
The community grassroots campaign – called Justice for Jordan – eventually led to the State Government rolling out a free meningococcal vaccination program for certain age groups of children.
New figures released by SA Health show more than 33,000 children – aged less than four years at the time – had received at least the first dose of Bexsero vaccination.
Statistics also reveal in 2018 there were 34 cases of meningococcal in South Australia.
Of the 34 cases, 27 were B strain and nine of these meningococcal B cases were children 10 years and under.
The vaccination program started in October last year and was hailed as a major breakthrough for South Australia given it recorded among the highest meningococcal cases in the nation.
Speaking with The Border Watch yesterday, Mr Braddock welcomed the vaccination program but called for it rolled out to other age groups and become “available for everybody”.
He also called for the awareness campaigns regarding meningococcal to continue.
“Jordan’s death has been shattering,” Mr Braddock said.
Mr Braddock said he was sharing his story so no other family had to suffer through the pain of losing a child to meningococcal.
Mr Braddock will today join a memorial cruise being planned to mark the 12 month anniversary of Jordan’s death and to raise awareness of meningococcal.
Event organiser Richard Hateley – who is a family friend of Jordan’s parents Emma Smith and Nathan Braddock – said the event aimed to raise awareness of meningococcal and money for the Paige Weatherspoon Foundation.
Before Jordan’s death, Mr Hateley said he knew little about meningococcal.
“I knew about meningococcal generally, but I did not know about the number of different strains,” Mr Hateley said.
“It was absolutely devastating to get the call nearly 12 months ago that Jordan had died.”
People taking part in the ride are urged to meet at the Lady Nelson Visitor and Discovery Centre at 10am this morning.
“We will leave there around 10.30am and we will head down to Port MacDonnell for coffee and bunch back up and head off to Nelson for lunch at the local pub,” Mr Hateley said.
Jordan was one of two cases in Mount Gambier within a two week period in March 2018 following a 15-year-old high school student also contracting the B-strain.
The meningcoccal vaccination program is offered to children:
•Aged six weeks to 12 months of age.
•A catch-up program for children aged 12 months to four years.
•Students in Years 10 and 11.
•A catch-up program for people aged 17 to 21.
