“I HAVE never felt so ill. It took me six months to fully recover and rebuild my energy after having flu.”

Those were the words of Jill Pettitt, who was hospitalised on Boxing Day last year after contracting the flu – along with much of her family.

Now, the 65-year-old is urging others to get their flu jab as peak season approaches – and avoid Christmas being ruined by illness.

It all began for the Pettitt family, from Taunton, when Jill’s granddaughter, Astrid, starting feeling poorly.

Her mum, and Jill’s daughter, Rebecca, said she thought the one-year-old had picked up a bug from her nursery.

“She had a sudden fever, was very lethargic and couldn’t settle and then became very poorly,” the 32-year-old went on.

“The next day I felt unwell with aching bones and was so tired I couldn’t stay awake, so I asked my mum if we could go and stay with her and my dad, so she could help look after us and she kindly did.

“A few days later, about a week before Christmas, my little girl got bronchiolitis and had to be admitted into A&E and be treated with a nebuliser.

“Then my mum also started to feel unwell.”

Rebecca and Jill with Astrid and her dad, Aaron Palmer

The family tested for Covid, she said, but came back negative, and things got worse.

“Although we were all feeling unwell, Christmas is such an important time for our family and particularly my mum, who wanted to make it special, so we tried to struggle on,” Rebecca added.

“My mum started to feel more unwell and by Christmas Day I have never seen her look so ill. She looked grey, she couldn’t move or eat and had lost a lot of weight very quickly.

“My dad, my brother and I were so worried about her, particularly as she has asthma, although it is normally very well controlled.

“I tried to persuade her to go to hospital, but she didn’t want to ruin Christmas Day for the family.

“My dad was so worried as her breathing was rattling, and she couldn’t even keep down a sip of water.

“On Boxing Day, we persuaded her to go to Minehead Minor Injuries Unit. They were absolutely fantastic. They organised for an ambulance to take her to Musgrove Park Hospital.

“When she was admitted into A&E and was swabbed to understand what was making her ill. They found she had flu (Influenza A); her oxygen saturation levels were low, and they were worried about sepsis, so they admitted her to resus initially, and then she was sent to a respiratory ward where she received antibiotics and anti-viral medication for five days.

“It was really scary. I love my mum so much and rely on her a lot. It was terrifying to see her so unwell. And to see the effect it had on my dad and brother. We were all so frightened. She was so fragile when she’s normally so strong.”

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She urged people eligible for a flu vaccine – including elderly people, those aged from two to three, and anyone with an autoimmune disorder – to get one before peak season.

“Having flu is so much worse than having a bad cold. I have never felt so unwell,” she added.

“I had no energy. I felt drained and just wanted to be left alone. It was like being hit by a truck.

Thankfully, Jill has now recovered, but said it was not easy.

“I have never felt so ill,” she said. “It took me six months to fully recover and rebuild my energy after having flu.

“I went from being very fit and active, walking my dog every day to someone who had no energy, struggled to get out of bed, was exhausted and couldn’t eat.”

Dr Rob Weaver, deputy chief medical officer at NHS Somerset, said: “With the flu season hitting the NHS more than a month earlier than usual and cases three times higher than at this time last year, there has never been a better time to get your flu vaccination to protect yourself and your loved ones ahead of the festive season.

“Last winter (September 2024 to March 2025), 1,780 people were hospitalised in Somerset as a result of having flu, Covid and RSV.

“With it taking up to two weeks for the flu vaccine to provide optimal protection – now is the best time for those who are eligible to be vaccinated.

“You can get vaccinated at your GP, your community pharmacy and at pop up clinics for pregnant women and school children. And, for the first time you can now get your two-three year vaccinated at most community pharmacies.”

For more information around eligibility – and where you can get your flu vaccine – visit https://nhssomerset.nhs.uk/my-health/staying-well/flu-vaccination.