Flu victims dig deep for others
A GOLD Coast couple who lost their daughter to pneumococcal meningitis have offered their support to the family of a Canberra woman who has become the latest victim of a horror flu season.
Mother-of-two Jennifer Thew died of respiratory failure at the weekend after contracting the flu, prompting calls from doctors to provide a free vaccine to everyone.
Gold Coasters Brian and Lorraine Thomson lost their daughter, Imogen Petrak, two months ago, just hours after she had given birth to a baby girl. In their first public statement since their own tragedy, Mr and Mrs Thomson wrote “We understand your pain” as they contributed $500 to a GoFundMe campaign set up to help Ms Thew’s husband Ben and her two young children.
“We lost our 35-year-old daughter two months ago to flu related complications a few hours after the delivery of her own baby daughter.
“May you know the comfort and loving support of family and friends at this very sad time as well as the Peace of God that passes all understanding. You are very much in our thoughts and prayers.”
Ms Thew’s family released a statement yesterday describing her as a “beautiful, gentle soul” and “the most devoted mother”.
The head of Australia’s peak GP group Dr Bastian Seidel wants everyone aged over six months to get a free flu shot as a record 181,000 Australians are struck by the virus.
Every year, 3000 Australians including 15 children, are killed by the flu and 18,000 are admitted to hospital.
The virus costs the Australian health system $85 million a year.
Immunisation Coalition chairman Professor Paul Van Buynder says the Federal Government this year paid for just 4.3 million doses of the flu vaccine, enough to protect only one in six Australians.
Professor Van Buynder said public health authorities on the Gold Coast provided every worker and resident in nursing homes with the antiviral drug Tamiflu when an outbreak occurred and wants the policy adopted nationwide.