What happened
Meg Hughes has urged parents to vaccinate their children after tragedy.
Her baby son Louie Hughes died from flu on Christmas Day.
What the family went through
Twins Louie and Vinnie Hughes were born at 26 weeks in Stockton-on-Tees.
Meg Hughes said they went from “strength-to-strength” after their birth.
What changed
Despite a months-long hospital stay, the twins had no major medical needs.
Meg Hughes said everything changed after they caught the flu.
The hospital fight and loss
After catching flu, the twins’ health declined quickly, she said.
Doctors placed both boys into a medically induced coma to battle the virus.
Vinnie is now recovering, but Louie died after contracting the flu.
What Meg is calling for
“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.
She also said: “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.”
Meg Hughes wants flu jabs to be compulsory.
She also hopes for mandatory full vaccinations before children start full-time education.
Staff at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary tried to save Louie until 19 minutes before he died.
A GoFundMe has been launched by Louie’s grandmother for his 15-month-old funeral costs.
Less than half of school children in England had a flu jab this winter, UKHSA said.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson backed flu vaccination calls.