"I was hospitalised with flu last winter – this is why all eligible groups need to get vaccinated"

A young man who was admitted to hospital with severe flu symptoms last Christmas has urged all eligible people to get vaccinated against it.

Joseph Sullivan, 26, was taken to the emergency unit at the University Hospital of Wales when his condition took a dramatic turn for the worse a week after his brother’s wedding.

The type 1 diabetic, who also has a weakened immune system, has warned all those in at-risk groups not to take influenza lightly as it has the potential to claim lives.

“I’ve never felt so ill in my entire life. I would not wish it upon anyone. It brought a whole new meaning to the word ‘flu’ for me,” he admitted.

After his brother’s wedding, which took place the weekend before Christmas, Joseph said he started going downhill the following Tuesday and had to call in sick from work.

“I had typical fever symptoms: headaches, feeling too hot or too cold, struggling to get comfortable and generally feeling rubbish. By the Thursday I started feeling a little better, but on the Friday I woke up feeling way, way worse,” he recalled.

Joseph, who was initially going to stay with his parents until he recovered, said he felt so unwell that he asked them to drive him to the emergency unit.

Following tests, doctors confirmed that flu was present in Joseph’s system. He said medical staff took his condition “very seriously” as the virus had affected his blood sugar levels and worsened his autoimmune hepatitis which causes liver problems.

“As soon as I walked in they could see I was unwell. I looked grey. Even though it was the height of the busy winter period I was seen quickly. If I hadn’t gone into hospital when I did, I dread to think what I’d have been like.”

An overnight spell in the emergency unit followed so clinicians could monitor his condition closely and give him intravenous fluids to aid his recovery.

“Even though I was discharged 24 hours later, I continued to feel unwell for many weeks afterwards,” he said. “I lost a lot of weight as I didn’t feel like eating, and I didn’t get out of bed at all on Christmas Day.”

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is starting its flu and COVID-19 vaccination programme this September and October. Those eligible include:

Flu vaccination

·    Children aged two and three years on 31 August, 2024  

·    Children in primary school from reception class to year 6 (inclusive)   

·    Children in secondary school from year 7 to year 11 (inclusive)    

·    People aged six months to 64 years in clinical risk groups    

·    People aged 65 years and older (age on 31 March 2024)    

·    Pregnant women   

·    Carers aged 16 and over  

·    People aged 6 months to 65 years who live with someone who has a weakened immune system    

·    People with a learning disability   

·    Frontline health and social care workers   

·    All staff working in care homes with regular client contact 

The flu nasal spray vaccine for children and young people will start in September. Those aged 2 and 3 years old will predominantly have their vaccines in GP surgeries, while primary and secondary children will be invited for theirs in school. A gelatine-free injection is also available through the GP or community vaccination clinics.

The rollout of the flu vaccine in adults will start in October. 

COVID-19 vaccination

·    People aged 6 months to 64 years with a long-term health condition (which includes pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system) 

·    Residents in a care home for older adults 

·    People aged 65 years and older (age on 31 March 2025) 

·    Unpaid carers 

·    Frontline health and social care workers 

·    Staff working in care homes for older adults 

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination for eligible groups will start in October. 

“I’d definitely take the flu vaccine and have a slightly sore arm than go through what I did again,” Joseph added.  

“I dread the idea of having flu again this winter, and the best way to prevent it is through having the vaccine.”

All eligible people will be invited by letter to receive their COVID-19 and flu vaccinations at either their GP Practice, local pharmacy or nearest community vaccination clinic.  

At this stage in the programme people will not be able to walk into a community vaccination clinic without an appointment.  

For those who have appointments, the addresses of the community vaccination centres are as follows: 

·    Ely Hub: Cowbridge Road West, Ely, CF5 5BQ  

·    Barry Hospital: Colcot Road. Barry, CF62 8YH 

·    Butetown Health Centre: Plas Iona, Butetown, CF10 5HW 

·    Rookwood Hospital: Fairwater Road, Llandaff, CF5 2YN 

·    Splott: The Old Star Centre, 2 Splott Road, Splott, Cardiff CF24 2BZ

·    Penarth Community Hub  

·    Maelfa Hub: Round Wood, Llanedeyrn, CF23 9PF 

More information on the flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be found on the Flu and COVID-19 vaccines for autumn/winter 2024/25 page.