Our beautiful boy, Levi Syer, was just 16 years old when our world changed forever. Levi was full of life — a kind, bright, and vibrant teenager with his whole future ahead of him. But in less than 24 hours after first becoming unwell, he was taken from us by Meningococcal B, a fast-moving and deadly bacterial infection, that triggered sepsis.
No parent can ever be prepared for the pain of losing their child so suddenly. One day he was laughing with us, and the next, he was gone. Our hearts are shattered, and our lives will never be the same.
We are sharing Levi’s story because we don’t want any other family to experience this heartbreak. What makes Levi’s loss even harder is knowing that there is a safe and effective vaccine available — but in Victoria, unlike in some other states, it is not provided free to all children and teenagers.
In South Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory, governments have already taken steps to fund Meningococcal B vaccinations, protecting children and teens from this devastating disease. Western Australia’s Opposition has also made a commitment. But here in Victoria, families must pay for the vaccine out of pocket — and during a cost-of-living crisis, this can be out of reach for many.
GPs and health experts, including the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP), are urging the Victorian Government to act now. They are calling for the Meningococcal B vaccine to be funded for at-risk groups, including all children aged two and under and every teenager aged 15–19.
Dr Anita Muñoz, Chair of RACGP Victoria, explained why this is so critical:
“Young Levi Syer died less than a day after he fell ill – this is an infection that must be taken seriously. If we don’t boost vaccination rates, more lives will be at risk, including young people like Levi with their whole lives ahead of them. By providing the Meningococcal B vaccine free of charge to at-risk groups, we can save lives across Victoria.”
Meningococcal B kills 5–10% of patients and leaves 10–20% of survivors with lifelong effects such as brain damage, hearing loss, or learning difficulties. The only real protection is vaccination — but too many families face financial barriers to accessing it.
One young life lost is one too many. Levi’s life mattered. His story matters.
We are asking the Victorian Government to act with urgency and compassion — to provide free Meningococcal B vaccinations for children and teenagers so that no other family has to endure the pain we are living with every day.
We can’t bring Levi back. But we can honour his memory by protecting others.