Mum's plea after daughter nearly dies from flu

An Adelaide mother has pleaded with parents to ensure their children get a flu shot after her daughter nearly died from influenza.

Late last month, four-year-old Savannah Gillespie started showing symptoms of the flu, including feeling sick and cold.

It took five visits, including one to a local doctor and Noarlunga Hospital, before Savannah was properly diagnosed with influenza Type A and a bacterial infection.

Savannah ended up in intensive care at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in the city’s north, where she was intubated for 13 days.

“The doctors said if we didn't take her in that night... she would have died,” mother Rhiannon Gillespie said.

“Just to see how quickly she deteriorated was horrible.

“Her organs were shutting down. She had to have two chest drains put in to drain fluid from her lungs.”

Although Savannah is now out of hospital, she now faces a long road to full recovery.

Her immune system and muscles have been damaged, she's anaemic, and has been left emotionally traumatised by her illness.

Ms Gillespie said the ordeal is a reminder to all parents to ensure their children get a flu shot every year.

“I mean it's not guaranteed... but if you can prevent it, why not,” she said.

Savannah’s survival comes only days after the flu death of eight-year-old Melbourne girl,  Rosie Andersen.

Read more: 'Angel' Rosie's death sparks call to get flu shot

One of the nation's leading experts, Professor Robert Booy, believes the flu vaccine should be offered to young children, just as other immunisations are now.

“It would not only protect them and prevent deaths in them and hospitalisation,” Professor Booy said.

“It would stop children from making their parents and their grandparents sick, so it would have a double benefit.”