'Flu ruined our Christmas - get your vaccine'
BBCA family who said their Christmas was "ruined" by flu are urging others to get their vaccine to avoid being hospitalised.
Rebecca, from Taunton, Somerset, caught flu from her daughter Astrid last Christmas and passed it onto her mother, who then spent five days in hospital.
The NHS in Somerset is urging eligible people to get their vaccine as soon as possible so it is effective over the festive period.
"We're quite concerned, this year we are seeing three times the number of people with flu at this point compared to last year," said Dr Robert Weaver, GP and deputy chief medical officer at NHS Somerset.
Rebecca's family had been vaccinated, but fell ill before it was most effective.
She said her flu symptoms felt like "being hit by a truck".
"Everything ached, I was sweating, had a headache," she said.
Her mother Jill also developed the same symptoms and was admitted to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton on Boxing Day.
"She couldn't even sip water. She looked grey, really fragile," she said.
Dr Weaver added: "It does take up to two weeks to have an effect so the earlier people get it the better."
According to the NHS, your flu symptoms will be milder and not last as long if you are vaccinated.
People over-65, have a long-term health condition, are pregnant or live or work with someone who is vulnerable are eligible for the flu jabs.
"Flu can vary each year but particularly this year it seems to be arriving earlier," Dr Weaver added.
"So we really want people to get their flu vaccine as soon as possible."
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