Darwin locals, Sally and Ash Lawrence were on their way back from a family holiday in Katherine with their 3 children when their daughter Skylar began to feel unwell with a fever.
After finding a small rash on Skylar's body, she was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma. A few hours later she was gone.
Skylar, aged 2, passed away from meningococcal B, a rare but serious disease that invades the body from the nose or throat through close prolonged contact.
Following the shock and devastation of losing their little girl, Sally and Ash found it hard to believe that there was a vaccine available but not covered under the national immunisation program.
After raising awareness for many years through their 'Share a Cino with Skylar' campaign, which was inspired by Skylar's love of sharing babycinos with her twin sister, the Northern Territory Government is introducing free meningococcal B vaccination for those most at risk.
From early 2025, the vaccine will be free for infants aged 6 weeks to 2 years and can be administered alongside other scheduled childhood vaccinations.
The vaccine will also be free as part of the NT School Immunisation Program, for adolescents aged 14 to 19.
