Neurophysiology’s Caroline Mulligan was ill for almost six weeks because she missed having the ‘flu vaccination once. And as a fit and healthy 30 year-old, it hit her hard - especially as she’d not had a day off sick in four years!

Caroline who works at CRH in the EEG department* told CHFT Weekly: “It was awful. I’ve never felt as ill. I seemed to get the full works.

“I was hallucinating, had a fever, cold sweats and lost a lot of weight. I had to move back with my mum and dad too as I was just so ill – bedridden for eight days. I had three weeks off work but I reckon it was a full six weeks before I felt anywhere near normal. I also had it over my birthday too, which was really disappointing.

“I am religious about having my vaccination because when I was 21 (and fit and healthy) I worked at a dentist and caught the flu. It was awful, though not as bad as the last time. I’ve worked at CHFT for 17 years and only missed it once since we started to have staff vaccinations”.

This year for every colleague that has their vaccination CHFT will donate the equivalent of 10 tetanus vaccinations to UNICEF – which is why we’ve called the campaign YES (You’re Extra Special).

Getting your flu vaccination is easy:

There are drop-ins each Thursday between midday and 1pm outside the restaurants.

And The Occupational Health Team will be holding drop-ins at their departments on the following dates next week:

HRI

Wednesday 25 October 1pm to 3pm

CRH

Wednesday 18 October 1pm to 3pm

* An EEG is like having an ECG on the head. 

See all our flu information on these pages: http://nww.cht.nhs.uk/divisions/corporate/workforce-and-organisational-development/occupational-health/current-campaigns/seasonal-flu/