Melbourne Covid: Father in ICU with ‘three days to live’ was vaccine hesitant

A vaccine hesitant father who vowed to ‘wait until the very end’ to get the jab is now fighting for his life on a ventilator – with doctors warning his family he may not live to see the end of the week. 

Zain Tiba, a teacher from Melbourne, told friends and family in mid-August he was hesitant about the safety of the approved Covid vaccines and wanted to see ‘how the circus unfolds’ before getting the jab.

Now, at just 45, he is fighting for his life in hospital and needs a ‘miracle’ to survive after he and his family all contracted the virus.

His daughter, Ella, has been sharing updates as his condition deteriorates, and revealed the family received a call on Sunday night from Mr Tiba’s medical team.

‘They said my dad is now considered the sickest person in both Australia and New Zealand,’ Ella said.

Zain Tiba, a teacher from Melbourne, told friends and family in mid-August he was hesitant about the safety of the approved Covid vaccines and wanted to see ‘how the circus unfolds’ before getting the jab

His daughter, Ella, has been sharing updates as his condition deteriorates, and revealed the family received a call on Sunday night from Mr Tiba's medical team

His daughter, Ella, has been sharing updates as his condition deteriorates, and revealed the family received a call on Sunday night from Mr Tiba’s medical team

She explained her father’s lungs have stopped working and he’s completely reliant on a ventilator to breathe.

Doctors have indicated he mightn’t live beyond the next three days.

‘There is absolutely nothing left that they can do anymore,’ Ella said. ‘Please create a miracle… Bring my dad back to us, we all need him.’

Mr Tiba’s wife Yasmine revealed on September 14 that the entire family had contracted Covid, but said the father in particular ‘wasn’t doing too well’.  

Within nine days, his condition had deteriorated and his blood oxygen levels had dropped from 95 per cent to about 85 per cent.

He required kidney dialysis as both of his kidneys were failing – with doctors monitoring his heart and other organs. 

‘Covid-19 is real… If you really think it will not hit you then think twice. I was on the death bed myself and I pray that I don’t lose my husband,’ Mrs Tiba said.

'They've stated my dad is now considered the sickest person in both Australia and New Zealand,' Ella (pictured with her husband) said

‘They’ve stated my dad is now considered the sickest person in both Australia and New Zealand,’ Ella (pictured with her husband) said 

Melbourne is in the grip of yet another Covid outbreak, but Mr Tiba was not in any hurry to get vaccinated due to concerns about the safety and efficacy of the jab.

He said he’d been researching ‘all issues vaccine related’ in an attempt to decide whether he should be for or against it, but couldn’t come to a decision.

Instead, he decided to simply wait it out.

‘I have listened to anti-vaxxers and pro-vaxxers, to the medical practitioners and the conspiracy theorists. Both have arguable point of views, to an extent,’ he said. 

‘Because I don’t have a medical background nor do I know the extent of the truth of the anti-vaxxers, I am not for nor against.

‘I will be waiting to the very end to see how this circus unfolds.’ 

Mr Tiba’s family are now calling on the community to pray that he will survive the virus

Mr Tiba’s family are now calling on the community to pray that he will survive the virus. 

Ella, 23, said her dad is ‘still so young’ and has ‘so many goals to look forward to’ as she pleaded with her friends to keep Mr Tiba in their thoughts. 

Victoria recorded 705 new cases of coronavirus and one death on Monday as the number of people in intensive care spiked.

The daily case total was the lowest in five days, but still a rise on the 567 recorded just one week ago.

There are 363 Victorians being treated for Covid in hospital across the state – the highest since September 2nd 2020.  

Of the hospitalised patients, 75 require intensive care treatment.    

More than 77 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over have now had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 47 per cent have had two doses.  

Ella, 23, (pictured with her husband) said her dad is 'still so young' and has 'so many goals to look forward to' as she pleaded with her friends to keep Mr Tiba in their thoughts

Ella, 23, (pictured with her husband) said her dad is ‘still so young’ and has ‘so many goals to look forward to’ as she pleaded with her friends to keep Mr Tiba in their thoughts

HOW MR TIBA’S CONDITION DETERIORATED SO RAPIDLY

August 13: Zain Tiba speaks publicly about his opinion of vaccines for the first time. He says that he is not ‘anti-vaccine’ but is hesitant about taking the Covid shot and will wait until ‘the very end’ to be jabbed. 

September 14: Just one month later, Mr Tiba’s wife reveals their whole family has contracted Covid. Zain, she says, is particularly sick.

September 23: Mr Tiba’s condition reaches ‘it’s most critical yet’ as doctors discover his organs are not receiving enough oxygen. He is taken to ICU and connected to a ventilator.

September 24: Mr Tiba’s blood oxygen levels drop dangerously low.

Doctors tell the family ‘there’s nothing more they can do to help’ if his condition deteriorates further.

September 26: Family receive a call from doctors revealing Mr Tiba’s condition has further deteriorated. He is described as ‘the sickest person in Australia’ with Covid. 

His family beg the community to pray for his good health.

September 27: Mr Tiba’s wife urges the community to understand that Covid is real and dangerous, revealing she, too, was ‘on her deathbed’ with the virus. 

She says the family has been given until the end of the week to see if Mr Tiba can recover. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk