A heartbroken mother who lost her beloved baby boy to flu on Christmas Day has urged other parents to vaccinate their children.
When twins Louie and Vinnie Hughes were prematurely born in Stockton-on-Tees at 26 weeks, they went from ‘strength-to-strength’.
The two brothers had no major medical needs despite their months-long hospital stay were healthy and happy.
But this all changed once they contracted the disease, according to their grieving mother Meg Hughes.
After catching the flu, her children’s health quickly declined and the twin boys were placed into a medically induced coma as they battled the virus.
Now one of her boys, Vinnie, is recovering from the ordeal but her other son Louie unfortunately passed away after contracting the flu.
Now the grief-stricken mother has urged other parents to vaccinate their children and has called for flu jabs to be compulsary.
‘Never in my life did I think the cause of death listed on my baby’s death certificate would be the flu,’ she told the BBC.
In the wake of Louie’s (pictured) death, his mother Megan Hughes hopes it will encourage parents to vaccinate their children fully, including flu jabs
The mother-of-twins revealed that staff at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary (pictured) tirelessly tried to save her son up until 19 minutes before he passed away
‘Many people think with children that flu’s just a cough and a cold that can be treated at home, they don’t realise how serious it can be.
‘I hope hearing Louie’s name will help others to get well.’
The mother-of-twins revealed that staff at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary tirelessly tried to save her son up until 19 minutes before he passed away.
Days after her son’s death, Ms Hughes paid tribute to her ‘smiley’ and ‘brilliant boy’ Louie, who she described as the love of her life.
As the smaller twin, she explained that it often felt he needed her more, adding that her ‘arms feel so empty’ with his absence.
She hopes her son’s memory will encourage legislation for mandatory full vaccinations for all children before they begin full-time education – including a flu jab.
Less than half of school children in England had a flu jab this winter, according to the most recent figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Even though expecting mothers can have the flu jabs, babies aged under six months are too young.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘This is a heartbreaking story, and our thoughts are with Meg and the rest of Louie’s family.
‘We commend her calls for people to take up the flu vaccine – it is the best way to protect you and your loved ones.
‘It is vitally important that everyone has their recommended vaccinations and children aged 2 and older are routinely offered the flu jab.’