Vaccines Failed to Prevent Child’s Meningitis Death; Mother, Doctors Wrongly Blame ‘Antivaxxers’
In late April, a fully vaccinated 8-year-old Indiana boy tragically died from a bacterial infection that spread to his brain, causing meningitis. Despite being fully vaccinated against Hib or haemophilus influenzae type b, allegedly the doctors at the hospital told mother Ashlee Dahlberg that her son Liam “likely caught the bacteria from an unvaccinated child at school.”
The truth I wish the doctors imparted is that nearly everyone carries one of the many serotypes of haemophilus influenzae in their nose and throat at any given time. It’s a commensal bacteria; a common colonizer of the upper respiratory tract. Liam’s mother, father and his siblings all may have been carrying the same exact bacteria in their nose and throat and not know it.
Instead, Dahlberg wrote a hate-filled rant blaming ‘unvaccinated children’ for her child’s death, a post she has since deleted due to getting so much flack. Dahlberg has a GoFundMe which has raised over $56,000. She interviewed with a local Indiana news station before getting her story picked up mainstream news from People to Daily Mail.
But when she started an online Change.org petition to remove Religious Exemptions I realized that’s when we have to share what we know, set the record straight and share all the receipts of this conflicting and contradictory timeline surrounding what happened to Liam, whose death is now being weaponized for mandatory vaccination, even though vaccines literally failed to protect this young boy.
The story keeps changing
Dahlberg first stated her son was immune compromised in her Facebook post pictured above. In the pic below, she reiterates he is immune compromised.
Dahlberg also revealed in the comments section of the now deleted April 28 post that Liam died from a strain of haemophilus influenzae not covered by the vaccine. This means the vaccine is not capable of preventing the specific infection, as the bacteria and vaccine are a mismatch. So again, it throws out the whole argument that an unvaccinated child is to blame if the serotype Liam had was not targeted by the vaccine.
Now nearly a month later, Dahlberg announced “after taking a deep dive into his medical records it was discovered he was in fact NOT immune compromised like we originally thought.” She also provides new information that the bacteria he contracted and died from is type B, but not any medical records or proof. But if that’s true, that means that the vaccine failed to prevent the deadly outcome it was ‘designed’ to prevent. She could raise awareness about vaccine failure, but doesn’t.
According to his mom, Liam had asthma, a known side effect of vaccination according to a 2023 CDC published study that found a dose response relationship between the aluminum adjuvant in vaccines and rate of asthma. She explains below that Liam was on medication for asthma she was “told he had a compromised immune system.” [Again, it can’t ever be that the vaccines failed right? It has to be a failure of the child or some other unvaccinated child.]
But she still believes that while the Hib vaccine obviously failed to prevent infection and invasive hib in her son, vaccines would have been successful in other children, preventing both transmission and carriage. If the vaccine failed to prevent infection and invasive disease in Liam, why would it “work” in other children?
A Petition to Remove Religious Exemptions
As the details surrounding Liam’s sudden illness keep changing, Dahlberg has started an online petition to remove Religious Exemptions. Rather than attributing blame to vaccine failure, she blames a gap in herd immunity, even though a gap in herd immunity doesn’t explain why a fully vaccinated immune competent child died of the very disease he was vaccinated against.
She also continues to blame unvaccinated individuals for her son’s death, even though he was vaccinated and the vaccine failed to protect him. If the vaccines can’t even prevent the most serious fatal outcome in Liam, what makes her think it would prevent carriage in others?
Herd immunity comes from natural carriage as well. Vaccines do not protect others from severe disease. Vaccines are supposed to prevent severe disease in the vaccinated individual, but in this case did not. So where is the argument for mass vaccination when vaccines fail to prevent severe disease in both the individual and in others?
How can anyone say—let alone a parent who just lost their fully vaccinated child to a “vaccine preventable illness”—that ‘vaccines save lives‘? I suspect she did not write this change.org statement by herself:
This has nothing to do with herd immunity. This has nothing to do with unvaccinated students or the religiously exempt. This has everything to do with vaccine failure.
Ashlee Dahlberg’s son Liam was fully vaccinated against Hib, or haemophilus influenzae type B, but as it turns out, Liam either contracted a strain of haemophilus influenzae not protected by the only available vaccine, or if it was type B, which is highly unlikely, the vaccine failed to prevent invasive hib, which is literally its only job.
It’s highly unlikely that Liam actually died of type B. According to the CDC, most cases of invasive Hib in this country are non-typable serotypes.
Hib Meningitis
According to the CDC, “H. influenzae are bacteria that live in people’s nose and throat. Usually, these bacteria cause no harm. However, they can move to other parts of the body and cause infection.”
Approximately 20% of infants are colonized in the first year of life and this rises progressively over time.
Hib carrier state increased from 4% to 47.5% in children attending day care for longer than 6 months.
By the age of 5–6 years more than 50%-75% of children will be colonized with this bacterium and most healthy adults (at least 75 %) will be.
A 2022 study examined the carriage of healthy children in Portugal, and found that 84% of the children sampled had at least one strain of H. influenzae in their upper respiratory tract.
There are encapsulated and non typable unencapsulated bacteria.
There are six encapsulated serotypes: a, b, c, d, e, and f.
The Hib vaccine targets only one strain: strain b. Carriage of Hib type B has gone down since the widespread use of the vaccine, but the vaccine causes mutations and selection pressure, and we now have more non-typable carriage and invasive disease as a result.
A 2025 Danish paper (Epidemiology of invasive Haemophilus influenzae infections in Belgium: 2018–2022) examined invasive Hib serotypes and found that 78% of invasive Hib in 5-19 year olds were non-typable isolates, whereas only 8.7% were type B, the type “prevented” by the vaccine.
Hours of hallucinations?
What’s even more gut wrenching is that Liam suffered an entire night of high fevers and hallucinations before he was brought to the ER the next day. Most of the news articles say the child died just hours after first symptoms. But Liam came home from school with a bad headache Thursday, which became excruciating sometime that afternoon, followed by hours of hallucinations and high fevers, and he was not bought to the ER until Friday morning. His mother kept administering Motrin to lower the fever and try to get her son to ‘calm down’ but it appears he needed urgent medical attention instead. Fevers would have been the body’s way of killing the bacteria, and thus reducing the fever enables the bacteria to continue unabated.
If the mother truly wanted to sound the alarm, let’s sound it on recognizing the signs of meningitis and seeking immediate medical attention.
I feel very sorry for this mom, and have empathy for this tragic situation, but blaming innocent children and classmates of Liam, or any other child or person is a distraction from what really happened. It’s a distraction from the inefficacy of vaccines. It’s a distraction from the larger more unsettling issue that a fully vaccinated child died from a serious infection that was supposedly preventable by the vaccines he received earlier in his life.
What good are vaccines if at the end of the day they don’t save your life from the very serious infection they target?
Signs and Symptoms of Meningitis
There are many kinds of meningitis: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic, even drug induced. They all may present slightly differently, but many have overlapping similarities.
- Fever: A high temperature.
- Headache: A severe, persistent headache.
- Stiff neck: Difficulty or pain when bending the neck.
- Sensitivity to light: Discomfort or pain when exposed to bright lights.
- Nausea or vomiting: Feeling or throwing up.
- Lack of appetite
- Confusion or altered mental state: Difficulty thinking clearly, disorientation, hallucinations, or drowsiness.
- Lack of energy: extreme sleepiness or trouble waking up.
- Rash: A rash that may not fade when pressed with a glass.
Read more in depth about Hib here, including information about how breastfeeding is protective against Hib.
Changing epidemiology of invasive Hib
Increased Incidence of Invasive Haemophilus influenzae Disease Driven by Non-Type B Isolates in Ontario, Canada, 2014 to 2018. 2021 Oct 31;9(2):e0080321.doi: 10.1128/Spectrum.00803-21.
“From 2014 to 2018, cases of invasive H. influenzae increased 5.6%, from 1.67 to 2.06 cases per 100,000 population, the majority of which were attributed to a 7.6% increase in the incidence of H. influenzae in those ≥65 years old. H. influenzae disease was primarily caused by nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi) (74.2%) and, to a much lesser extent, serotype a (Hia) (8.9%) and serotype f (Hif) (10.2%).”
Trends in the epidemiology of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease in Queensland, Australia from 2000 to 2013: what is the impact of an increase in invasive non-typable H. influenzae (NTHi)? doi: 10.1017/S0950268815000345.Epub 2015 Mar 12.
“Following the introduction of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), cases of invasive encapsulated Hib disease have decreased markedly. This study aimed to examine subsequent epidemiological trends in invasive H. influenzae disease in Queensland, Australia and in particular, assess the clinical impact and public health implications of invasive non-typable H. influenzae(NTHi) strains.
In total, 737 invasive isolates were identified, of which 586 (79·5%) were serotyped. Hib, NTHi and encapsulated non-b strains, respectively, constituted 12·1%, 69·1% and 18·8% of isolates. The predominant encapsulated non-b strains were f (45·5%) and a (27·3%) serotypes. Of isolates causing meningitis, 48·9% were NTHi, 14·9% Hib, 14·9% Hie, 10·6% Hif, 6·4% Hia and 4·3% were untyped. During the study period, there was an increase in the incidence of invasive NTHi disease (P = 0·007) with seasonal peaks in winter and spring (P 0·001) and Hib (P = 0·039) than non-Indigenous patients.”
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) seroprevalence and current epidemiology in England and Wales doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2017.12.010. Epub 2017 Dec 28.
During 2012-2016, annual Hib disease incidence remained below one case per million population, responsible for only 67 of 3523 laboratory-confirmed H. influenzae cases, including one case of Hib meningitis during the 5-year period.
Hib antibodies wane rapidly after the 12 months booster. Although most children remain protected against disease, antibody levels may not be high enough to prevent carriage among toddlers.
Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis in a vaccinated and immunocompetent child. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2016.06.001. Epub 2016 Jul 12.
“We report a case of a fifteen-months-old girl, previously healthy and vaccinated, admitted in the emergency room with fever and vomiting. She was irritable and the Brudzinski’s sign was positive. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed pleocytosis and high protein level. Empiric intravenous antibiotics (ceftriaxone and vancomycin) were administered for suspected bacterial meningitis during 10 days. Serotyping of the Haemophilus influenzae strain found in CSF revealed a serotype b. Despite vaccination compliance and absence of risk factors, invasive Hib disease can occur due to vaccine failure.”
Ten years of Hib vaccination in Italy: prevalence of non-encapsulated Haemophilus influenzae among invasive isolates and the possible impact on antibiotic resistance. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.03.059. Epub 2011 Apr 1.
The introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines has greatly reduced the incidence of invasive Hib disease. However, concern exists about the possible emergence of “strain replacement”.
Nonencapsulated (ncHi) predominated among H. influenzae isolates from all age groups: 61.5%, 76.0%, and 75.0% for <5, 5-64 and ≥65 years, respectively.
Your article is full of misinformation. I can really see how you like to turn and add words from the mother’s post to make it seem worse. This website is completely laughable 😂😂😂
How is any of this misinformation? I’m sharing the receipts of what she actually said.
She has stated numerous times that anyone can be a carrier of HIB in her posts but the strength of the bacteria weakens by someone vaccinated. Yet you sit here and say doctors didn’t tell her that. How do you know? Doctors have literally been on news channels indicating the same thing she has said she’s been told and that is that poor Liam most likely contracted this from someone unvaccinated. How are you going to sit there and dismiss professionals? And a hate filled rant? No where in there do I see hate! I see someone who was very angry based on what they were told and she expressed that anger. I guess those who don’t believe in vaccines though want to read her text the way they think it’s coming across though right? Instead of how it might actually be coming across? Misinformation in regards to asthma…..anything to blame a vaccine huh? There has been no studies to support that claim. Yes there is aluminum adjuvant in vaccines but oh my goodness there’s also Aluminum found in food-related products including pots and pans, storage containers, such as beverage cans and foil. It’s also found in numerous foods and beverages including fruits and vegetables, beer and wine, seasonings, flour, cereals, nuts, dairy products, baby formulas, and honey. That couldn’t cause his asthma though could it? I sure hope you don’t use or eat and drink any of these items that have aluminum in them 😳. You all always have to blame vaccines even when the science says the benefit out weighs the risk. As far as herd immunity and vaccines….herd immunity was storing until everyone wanted to stop vaccinating their children. Vaccines have to go through numerous testing before they can be declared safe. Vaccines don’t just protect a person but they limit the strength of the diseases they prevent. Absolutely a vaccinated person can still contract something like poor Liam and die because someone wasn’t vaccinated to limit the strength of the disease they were carrying. It’s science and unless YOU (my self included) know anything about it and how it works than leave it to the professionals who are trained in it and trust them. I sure as hell do! The mother stated she gave him Motrin when he came home on that
Thursday and didn’t get him anymore until 5:45 that Friday morning. You claim the mother continually fed him
Motrin to bring down high fevers. The way I read her post is that he had a headache, was given Motrin, the headache came back but they were able to get him to fall asleep peacefully. The parents probably thought his headache subsided after he fell asleep but here you are making it look like they are horrible parents. No where in her post does it indicate a time he spiked a fever. For all we know he could have spiked a fever very early that morning which would be why he was given more motrin at 5:45. Also, some kids and even adults hallucinate in their sleep (it’s actually a sleep condition). and it can be disregarded as dreaming or talking in your sleep. Which is what I suspect they probably thought until they were able to get their son awake to see something was completely off which I suspect is when they brought him in. Not to mention you claim the mother is lying about the strain he contracted but I’ve seen in another post after getting his medical records that it was listed as type B. You claim she’s changing details but I see a mother who is just trying to get answers she is updating as she gets updated information and the only things I’ve seen updated is the fact her son was not immunocompromised and the doctors being able to determine the strain. She has every right to start that petition. All she is saying is that if you choose not to vaccinate than to homeschool your children or put them into private school. 10 years ago it was MANDATORY for children to be vaccinated before starting in a public school. That should NEVER have changed.
Your article is doing nothing but bashing this poor mom and spreading misinformation information. Oh and breastfeeding??? Not always the best choice. My any was a breastfed baby and has had nothing but problems including eczema, asthma, constantly sick, allergies etc. But my formula fed baby?? Which remember now contains aluminum is my HEALTHIEST baby!
Point of the matter….stop making this poor mom out to be a horrible parent because that’s all I got from this! She’s trusting what she is being told by professionals and if you choose not to trust professionals that’s your choice but stop bashing her for her choice. It’s just ugly and God don’t like Ugly. I don’t see her going around bashing all the antivax people but I see SEVERAL antivax bashing her.
☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼 it takes a long time and much effort to properly inform yourself of the dangers Pharma is causing in society. I invite you Rebecca to take those steps. It’s even more obvious now in 2025 🙏 a good start is the book Dissolving Illusions by Suzzane Humphries or see her videos
My daughter was diagnosed with asthma after vaccines. We stopped them and she got well! Her pediatrician said one visit after we stopped the vaccines. This child does not have asthma after he had been the one who diagnosed. My grand daughter was vaccine injured. She has come a long way with detox and naturopath meds. But some signs of vaccine injury are still there!! Until you experience the vaccine injuries in your own family you go with what the doctors say do! Afterwards you di your own research and you do your very best to protect your child!
I urge all of your followers, including Abigail Sims and Ashlee Dahlberg, to read a recent publication appearing 4/30/2025 in Medical Research Archives, volume 13, issue 4, entitled: “The Perfect Storm Theory for Detecting Vaccine-Induced Toxicity Prior to Immunization.” It’s 7 references are also a must read, as is my book published on Amazon in June 2024: “COVID 19: How Fauci and Cancel Culture Sickened an Untold Number of mRNA Vaccine Recipients.” Arthur E. Brawer, MD
For all the moms commenting who don’t believe that childhood vaccines maim and even kill babies snd children, my two eldest daughters’ pediatrician, an MD, informed me of the dangers 33 years ago when I left 3 pediatrician offices and went to him after watching my 3 month and two year old daughters scream and cry, plus get sick after their routine vaccines. He had four children, and he did not vaccinate. He witnessed what they were doing to his patients. I started reading and learning all I could. he told me he could tell what kind of mother I was and that he could lose his medical license. If I told anybody what he told me. I knew he was telling me the truth, and I’m forever indebted to him. I personally know of six families whose children became diagnosed as autistic after a “routine triple vaccine.” Before that, they were developing perfectly. I was also reading Mothering Magazine in the early 90s and they addressed childhood vaccines, circumcision, as well as many other forms of toxicity and routinely done harms to children. I wonder how many mothers in these comments actually read the vaccine inserts or took the time to look into nvic.org.
I am a 75yr old mother with 2 grown men. If I could go back to when those 2 men were babies/children, I would Not have had them vaccinated (or at least not until I had Really Studied the list of ingredients and done a good bit of research myself) and my 2 guys had way fewer vaccines than are Mandated today. But, no, I trusted the “Professionals”. I find it interesting that many young moms seem to rely completely on the “Professionals” and mainstream news for the answers. If those “Professionals” indicated that your baby should be injected with cobra snake venom for protection, would you proceed? No, because a rational person is aware of what poison consists of – death. So, why then are you putting an ingredient in a child without knowing what it consists of and whether there are Any rational/truthful studies to show it won’t affect that child negatively?
Please, new moms. Get out of the mainstream and begin to think/study for yourselves. The “Professionals” try to sound all knowing, but they are not.