HOLDING her son's lifeless body remains the worst moment of Elizabeth Cockroft's life.

But knowing six-week-old Malakai died from a vaccine-preventable disease is a fact that still haunts the Ravenshoe mother.

Ms Cockroft and partner Nathan Taylor lost their son to whooping cough in late 2012.

Malakai was too young to be vaccinated and his parents had not received pertussis booster shots.

"He had a cough and was really unsettled," Ms Cockroft said.

"We took him to the GP and we were told he had a cold and there was nothing more to it.

"The whole family was unwell so I asked if it could be whooping cough."

It wasn't until days later the youngster was tested for the contagious respiratory infection at Cairns Hospital and transferred to Mater Hospital in Brisbane.

Malakai's tiny heart failed on the way to Brisbane which left him brain-damaged and on life support.

His parents inevitably faced the devastating decision to switch off the machine in September 2012.

Since then Ms Cockroft has been spreading the message about the importance of vaccination.

"My main thing is to have a conversation about vaccination. My eldest child is 12 and I've never questioned vaccination," she said.

"Don't jump on the internet and Google ... You have a choice of whether to vaccinate or not to vaccinate but go in with an informed decision about it."

Ms Cockroft also advised parents to make sure doctors tested for pertussis if their child was showing symptoms.

"I think there are a lot more cases in the region that aren't being tested," she said. "The vaccine starts to lose its effect after six to eight years.

"Two months before Malakai's death, a free booster program for expectant parents was axed by the Queensland Government.

Ms Cockroft argued subsidised shots should still be available for parents.

"Vaccines are safe and effective and are updated regularly to meet all safety standards," she said.

"Scaremongering and misinformation are often at the centre of a person's decision not to vaccinate in these current times."For more information phone Immunise Australia on 1800 671 811.

