‘I skipped the jab and the flu almost killed me, twice’published at 13:43 GMT 18 December
Jack Grey
Live reporter
Image source, Scott Blackwell“Just get it done,” is the flu jab advice from a man who was placed in a coma and almost died twice after catching the flu without a vaccine.
Scott Blackwell, who qualifies for the jab due to his asthma, says in the winter of 2019 he simply didn’t get around to it.
“Sometimes life gets in the way, you put things on the back foot,” says the 45-year-old from Wrexham, adding that he now considers it a “selfish” thing to have done.
After being found slumped over a radiator by a work colleague, he was rushed to hospital where it was discovered the flu virus led to his lungs failing completely, with oxygen no longer getting to his brain.
He was placed into an induced coma, hooked up to an artificial lung machine, and his family were called in to say their last goodbyes – on two separate occasions.
After two weeks in a coma followed by nine months recovery, which included learning to walk again, he is now urging everyone eligible to get vaccinated.
“Ignore the scaremongering and just get it done, that’s my advice.”
