I will never delay flu jab again - pharmacy boss

Tania Cork thought she might have to use an inhaler for the rest of her life, after becoming ill with flu last winter

A senior pharmacist from Staffordshire has said she thought she would need an inhaler for the rest of her life after catching the flu last year.

Tania Cork, chief operating officer for community pharmacies in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, and an avid gym-goer, said she had put off getting a flu jab due to being busy at work.

“I felt like I couldn’t breathe in, it was a burning pain all down my chest,” she said.

She urged eligible patients to get vaccinated as soon as they could.

Ms Cork said she picked up the virus during a holiday in Spain.

A few days after returning, she began feeling extremely tired and then had a chesty cough.

“I could hardly speak to 111, my husband had to relay all the messages because I could hardly talk,” she said.

She was urged to go directly to A&E, due to the seriousness of her condition, where she was subsequently put in isolation for two days.

It took more than four months for her to feel right again afterwards, she said.

During that time, she had continuous chest infections and was put on three sets of antibiotics.

“My breathing was so bad I honestly thought I was going to need an inhaler for the rest of my life, and I was so weak and tired I just couldn’t function,” she said.

Other infections

Her experience has made her better appreciate how poorly people can get from having flu.

“What people don’t realise is that flu opens the door for all sorts of other infections, and any infection can potentially lead to sepsis which can be life-threatening.

“I will never delay getting vaccinated again,” she said.

People can get the NHS flu vaccine if they are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2025); have certain health conditions; are pregnant or live in a care home for older adults.

Frontline health professionals should also get vaccinated.