Public encouraged to get flu jabs as hospital cases soar

A North West midwife who caught flu and thought she could die has joined patients and health chiefs in pleading with the public to get their flu vaccines amid rising hospital cases.

It comes as latest data shows nearly 1,000 people in the North West were in hospital with flu in the week to January 1.  

Martyne Drinkall, who is a midwife at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is urging people to come forward for a flu jab after being admitted to intensive care last year, with flu.

She said: “I was absolutely dripping in sweat, my chest was really full and I did feel like I was going to die.

"I said to the doctor 'I'm dying, I'm going to die here'.

"My husband and daughter then visited me and the look on their faces, my husband was absolutely traumatised by it.”

Martyne, who receives the flu vaccine every year, was due her yearly jab when she fell ill.

She said: “After the experience I have gone through, I would encourage everyone to have their vaccine as soon as possible so they are protected this winter.

"If I could save just one person and their family from going through what I did, I would be very happy.”

The resurgence of flu this winter has meant the NHS has seen a continued rise in flu inpatients, including in ICU.

Almost 2.5 million flu vaccines have been delivered in the North West to date, but there are still people that are eligible that have yet to take their winter vaccinations and are therefore at increased risk of serious illness. 

Those eligible for the flu jab include all people aged 50 and over, health and social care workers, people aged six months and over and considered “at risk” due to another medical condition, as well as pregnant women, children aged two and three and school aged children in primary school, as well as secondary school years 7-9.

Children are able to receive their vaccination via a nasal spray and are encouraged to get the vaccine to not only protect themselves, but also reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others who may be vulnerable.

An injectable vaccine is available for children who can’t have the nasal spray version.

The mother of a four-year-old girl, who spent more than a week in the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital with flu is warning others to have their children vaccinated this winter.

Maryam Sheiakh’s daughter, Saffy, was admitted to hospital with a high temperature and a cough, but when she was struggling to breathe was taken to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) and given oxygen.

Maryam said: “I was very overwhelmed and tired.

"I thought this is really serious and when she was moved onto HDU I was wondering 'what's going to happen to my child?'

"I was distraught, I really thought I was going to lose my child, I thought she might die from this.”

Now Maryam is encouraging others to ensure that their children have the protection from flu that the vaccine gives.

She said: “Go and get it done, don't take the risk.

"It offers that extra level of protection and may help to reduce hospital admissions."

Julie Kelly, who is Interim Regional Director of Primary Care and Public Health Commissioning at NHS England, said: “This winter has been the worst flu season we’ve seen for a long time, with high levels of flu in the community and many people being admitted to hospital.

“The flu virus changes every year, which is why we have a new vaccination each winter – so even if you have had a flu jab before, you’ll need this year’s jab to protect you and your loved ones.

“Flu is really unpleasant for most, but for some can be dangerous.

"The best defence that we have to keep us safe this winter, from catching and spreading flu is to get the vaccine.”

General practices and pharmacies are continuing to offer the flu vaccine to eligible people.

It’s possible to book a flu vaccine at some pharmacies online at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/book-flu-vaccination/

To find a wider list of pharmacies offering flu vaccination that you can contact directly book, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/pharmacy-nhs-flu-vaccine-service/

Children aged 2-3 can only be vaccinated at their GP practice.

School immunisation teams have already taken the flu vaccine out to primary schools and are currently visiting secondary schools across the region to offer the vaccine to children in years 7 to 9.

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