Charlie Ware’s meningococcal B survival prompts parents to lobby for MenB jab to be funded by government

The parents of meningococcal survivor Charlie Ware say they had no idea their son remained unprotected and have pleaded for the State Government to fund the vaccine for the deadly virus’ B strain. “We were completely in the dark and unaware that there was a B strain vaccination you could get,” mum Alyce Ware said, revealing Charlie, now 6, had received the jab for the A, C, W and Y strains — but not the B strain. “It was knowledge that we didn’t have — that was where most of our anger came from,” she said. The vaccine costs up to $130 per dose and two or three doses are required depending on a child’s age. The Ware family live in Munglinup, a town of fewer than 200 people about 110km west of Esperance. Charlie, then five, became became lethargic and complained of a sore back at school in June. “His hands and feet were cold, but he didn’t seem to have a (high) temperature,” Ms Ware said. “Something just didn’t feel right.” His parents kept an eye on him throughout the night giving him Panadol but he quickly threw it up. “We’ve taken his jumper off and noticed an irritation (on his skin) and he couldn’t walk properly,” Ms Ware said. They called an ambulance and the volunteer officers recognised the symptoms of meningococcal and organised a medical evacuation to Perth. “By that time the rash was spreading, that purple rash,” Ms Ware said. “It wasn’t sinking in for us. But they were onto it.” Charlie and Ms Ware were collected by the RFDS the following morning, while Mr Ware drove the near-eight hour trip from Esperance to Perth. “He was in and out (of consciousness) on the plane,” Ms Ware said. Within 24 hours, Charlie had gone from feeling a bit unwell at school to being placed in an induced coma in Perth Children’s Hospital’s intensive care unit. “He was pretty distressed, he didn’t know what was going on. He was screaming ‘help me, I’m dying’,” Ms Ware said. Charlie was in the ICU for six days, four of which were spent in a coma. “When he first went into the coma it was (uncertain), we weren’t sure what was going on,” Ms Ware said. “His blood pressure kept crashing, (and) he was spiking temps but they couldn’t figure out why, couldn’t control it.” After two and a half weeks at PCH, Charlie was discharged. Now six, Charlie has made an incredible recovery. He has a slight limp from a blood clot he suffered in hospital and scarring from the disease’s defining rash. “He’s had one minor seizure, which we’re just keeping an eye on, (but) he’s doing really well,” Ms Ware said. The terrifying ordeal has opened the Wares’ eyes to how quickly meningococcal can spread. They say more families need to know about the MenB jab, and that it should be funded by the State Government. “Watching your son go through that, it’s heartbreaking,” Ms Ware said. “We live in a tiny little town, our school has 12 kids. The knowledge isn’t getting out there. “It needs to be on the (immunisation) schedule so every child can be protected.” Nine of WA’s 11 meningococcal cases in 2025 so far have been the B strain. Meningitis Centre Australia continues to lobby the State Government to fund a MenB immunisation program — particularly for the one in four kids living in remote and regional WA. “Meningococcal B kills one in 10 people and moves incredibly fast — every second counts,” Meningitis Centre Australia chief executive Karen Quick said. “Charlie was lucky. The quick action of local ambulance officers saved his life. But not every remote or regional child will have that same chance. “It shouldn’t come down to good luck or geography whether a WA child survives meningococcal B.” The MenB jab is currently only free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and children with certain medical conditions.