At about 5 a.m. on April 1, 2025, in Paris, Antoine Archambault heard his baby son Isaac fussing. Isaac, normally cheerful, had a mild fever. Antoine gave him paracetamol, and Isaac went back to sleep.
A bit later, Isaac’s fever returned. Antoine’s partner, Claire Fauvet, needed to leave for work, so he took Isaac to a medical clinic. They arrived as it opened, expecting a routine check-up. But soon after, an ambulance was called to take Isaac to the children’s hospital, alarming Antoine. A doctor informed him Isaac might have meningococcal disease.
Meningococcal disease, caused by bacteria, spreads through close contact. It can quickly become life-threatening, causing shock and brain swelling. About 10-15% of cases are fatal even with treatment, and many survivors have permanent impairments.
Antoine believed Isaac had been vaccinated. However, a new requirement for one of the vaccines had only just been introduced, and Isaac hadn’t yet received it. Tragically, Isaac’s condition worsened, and he passed away later that day.
In the U.S., recent changes remove the meningococcal vaccine from recommended childhood immunizations, except for high-risk groups. This decision, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was made despite no new data. The changes have sparked concerns about the impact on public health.
Antoine and Claire now work to raise awareness and support research on the disease to prevent more tragedies like theirs.
Vocabulary List:
- Meningococcal /ˌmɛn.ɪŋ.ɡəˈkɒk.əl/ (adjective): Relating to meningococcus a type of bacteria that can cause severe infections.
- Impairments /ɪmˈpɛr.mənt/ (noun): A loss of normal function or ability.
- Alarming /əˈlɑː.mɪŋ/ (adjective): Causing fear or concern.
- Fatal /ˈfeɪ.təl/ (adjective): Causing death.
- Tragically /ˈtrædʒ.ɪ.kli/ (adverb): In a way that causes great sadness or distress.
- Vaccinated /ˈvæk.sɪ.neɪ.tɪd/ (verb): Administered a vaccine to protect against disease.
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