James Lewis | Email news tips to jlewis@cknw.com
7/31/2012
The mother of a 19-year old UVIC student who died of meningitis last year - is launching a petition, calling on the Province to cover a particular vaccine - she argues could have saved her son.
Mabel Chan's son Leo thought he had come down with the flu.
It wasn't - it was bacterial meningitis.
24 hours later, he was in a coma.
He died just days later.
Adding insult to injury, news a vaccine - MCV4 - has been available for years - but isn't provided at the school level.
"There are other strains that are spiking now and it's not being covered, and we all thought our kids were being protected."
Eight other provinces provide the vaccination.
Now Nabel and her husband have set up an online petition - and information kiosk at their son's former workplace, a Coquitlam aquatic centre.
"I can hear him tell me... mom... save young lives."
The Province says school vaccinations are reviewed on an annual basis.
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