A life cut short: Baby Mabel’s pneumococcal fight

Born in March 2021, Mabel Olive Airi’s life was cut short at just six months due to pneumococcal disease. 

In September 2021, Mabel's family enjoyed a typical day filled with laughter and play. However, by the evening, she began to vomit and showed signs of distress. The following morning, Mabel was taken to hospital, where she was treated for dehydration and monitored overnight.

Despite initial assessments suggesting a stomach bug, her health rapidly declined. Within days, Mabel was diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis, which had caused severe damage to her brain. 

After a week of intensive care, her parents faced the unimaginable decision to remove her from life support, and she passed away on 22 September.

Mabel’s mother, Carly, is now dedicated to raising awareness about pneumococcal disease. She believes earlier testing and a more thorough evaluation could have saved Mabel's life. 

Carly is also passionate about ensuring pneumococcal vaccines offer the greatest possible breadth of coverage against the many different strains of the disease.

A newer vaccine that is currently being reviewed by the Commonwealth Government covers the strain that caused Mabel's illness. The currently funded vaccines for children do not.

Learn more about Baby Mabel’s story here: https://mabeloliveairi.org