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HomeHealthStockton mum's vaccine plea after shedding child to flu

Stockton mum’s vaccine plea after shedding child to flu

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Meg Hughes A black and white picture of a smiling Louie Hughes. The baby is wearing a Mickey Mouse vest.Meg Hughes

Till he caught flu, Louie Hughes had been thriving since being born at simply 26 weeks

A mom is urging dad and mom to get their youngsters vaccinated after shedding one in all her child twins to flu on Christmas Day.

In December, 15-month-old Louie and Vinnie Hughes have been positioned in induced comas as they fought to outlive the illness. Vinnie is now on the highway to restoration however his brother couldn’t be saved.

Their mom Meg Hughes hopes his story will encourage others to vaccinate their youngsters and is looking for flu jabs to be made obligatory.

“By no means in my life did I believe the reason for loss of life listed on my child’s loss of life certificates can be the flu,” she mentioned.

The twins, from Stockton-on-Tees, had gone from “energy to energy” since being born prematurely at simply 26 weeks and two days gestation.

Regardless of spending months in hospital from delivery they have been left with no main medical wants and have been thriving, completely happy infants till they caught the flu, Ms Hughes mentioned.

“Louie was so smiley, he was an excellent boy who’d come by way of the whole lot,” she mentioned.

“He was the love of my life, however I do not wish to cry as a result of none of my recollections of him are unhappy.”

Meg Hughes Meg Hughes, a woman with dark hair, smiles into the camera while holding new-born twins in her arms. The babies are wrapped in a rainbow-coloured blanket and each wearing woollen hats with tubes in their noses. The picture is taken on a hospital ward.Meg Hughes

Louie and Vinnie weighed simply 680 and 710 grams respectively at delivery and have been so tiny their eyes have been nonetheless fused shut

After contracting flu, the twins’ well being deteriorated rapidly and on Christmas Day, Louie’s coronary heart stopped.

Medics at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary did all they may to save lots of him and labored on him for 19 minutes earlier than he died, Ms Hughes mentioned.

“My arms really feel so empty now,” she added.

“He was the smallest twin and at all times appeared to want me essentially the most, he at all times needed cuddles.”

Talking days after his loss of life, the heartbroken mom desires to make use of her son’s reminiscence to save lots of others.

She want to see laws launched to make it obligatory for all youngsters to be totally vaccinated, together with a flu jab, earlier than they begin college.

‘Save a life’

The most recent statistics from the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) present fewer than half of faculty age youngsters throughout England acquired a flu jab this winter.

Infants below six months months are too younger to have the vaccine, however expectant moms can have it at any stage of their being pregnant.

“I might encourage everybody to get their little one vaccinated if attainable and I might prefer to see it made obligatory, because it may save a life,” Ms Hughes mentioned.

“Many individuals suppose with youngsters that flu’s only a cough and a chilly that may be handled at residence, they do not realise how severe it may be.

“I hope listening to Louie’s identify will assist others to get nicely.”

A authorities spokesperson mentioned: “It is a heartbreaking story and our ideas are with Meg and the remainder of Louie’s household.

“We commend her requires individuals to take up the flu vaccine – it’s one of the best ways to guard you and your family members.

“It’s vitally necessary that everybody has their advisable vaccinations and kids aged two and older are routinely provided the flu jab.”

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