I’ve had my flu jab, have you? – Mark Gallacher

I have made a priority of having the flu jab every year.

I’ve never been opposed to having the flu jab, but some years I just didn’t get round to taking up the opportunity. I probably thought I was too young and healthy to get the flu.

However, my attitude changed after February 2013, when I actually got the flu. By flu, I mean flu. It wasn’t a cold or a sore throat and cough, it was flu.

I had no energy and I could not get out of bed for several days. I ached all over including headaches, and even my gums were hurting! My temperature was continually raised – I remember sweating profusely even though it was February! I lost my appetite and hardly ate and seemingly lived on fluids and paracetamol for the week.

As the week progressed and I managed to get out of bed, I was exhausted by the time I got downstairs and spent long periods of time crashed out on the couch. Every movement just introduced more pain and discomfort.

I remember thinking at the time how more vulnerable people, such as the elderly, would cope with such an episode. I also remember thinking that I wouldn’t want to be responsible for making anybody else as poorly as me by passing on the infection.

I also couldn’t think where I had contracted it. I didn’t know of anybody else who was so ill. But that’s the nature of the illness. Somehow, some
where I had come into contact with an infected person. We can’t avoid meeting and mixing with people, but we can protect ourselves and others by getting vaccinated.

Since then I have made a priority of having the flu jab every year. I never want to feel as poorly as that again!

Mark Gallacher
Head of Performance and Quality