Kathleen Sargent, a great grandmother from Blakenall, was admitted to Walsall Manor Hospital after contracting flu. She suffers from the lung condition COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and began feeling unwell at her home last week.
"I couldn’t breathe at one point and when my daughter came round she phoned for an ambulance," explained the 82-year-old. "I just felt so ill and wasn’t really with it."
Mrs Sargent and her husband usually have their flu jabs annually but had not yet booked theirs this year. "I won’t do that again because I don’t want to feel this ill again and end up in hospital as I have done," she stated.
She added: "I would tell anyone else thinking about whether to have the jab to make sure they do because it does protect you – even if you get the flu it can mean you’re not as badly affected. As soon as I’m out of hospital and well enough I’ll be getting mine."
“"We thank Kathleen for sharing her story and wish her well in her recovery. As she has described, flu is so much more than a cough or cold – it can really knock you off your feet, particularly if you have other health conditions. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourselves and your families this flu season."
Lisa Carroll, Chief Nursing Officer at Walsall Healthcare and The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trusts, said: "We encourage eligible people in our communities to take up the offer of a free flu jab by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/vaccination-and-booking-services/book-flu-vaccination/ for details."
