Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table a petition for consideration by the House. I note the petition was certified at a recent meeting of the Standing Committee on Petitions as being in accordance with the relevant standing orders. The petition calls on the government to include the meningococcal B vaccine on the national immunisation program for children. This position is the result of the near tragic experience of the Parkyn family of Cooltong, a small settlement north of Renmark in my electorate of Barker.

Jazmyn Parkyn, the daughter of Aaron and Sarah Parkyn, exhibited flu-like symptoms on 25 August 2015, which prompted Sarah Parkyn to present Jazmyn to a local GP. Thankfully, two small spots were located during that examination, which prompted an admission to hospital. As the disease spread, Jazmyn was airlifted by med staff from Renmark to Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital—a trip that would ultimately save her life.

Given the similarities between flu-like symptoms and those of meningococcal b, there is a strong case for the vaccine for the meningococcal b to be placed on the national immunisation register, a fact made plain by Jazmyn's near fatal experience. The next Jazmyn may not be so lucky. I commend the Parkyn family and their supporters for pursuing their concerns via this petition. It is an absolute privilege to be able to table it in the House today.