For, like thousands of people each year, Mrs Preston, 68, caught the flu.

But unlike most individuals, who might have one or two episodes of flu in a lifetime, Mrs Preston found she was unusually susceptible.

For six years in a row she had debilitating attacks which left her unable to contemplate an active and normal life.

Vaccination

One year she had three episodes of flu in quick succession and this was what spurred her to consider the government backed annual flu jab.

"I just wanted to die. I always got flu so badly.

"The year I got it three times I really was very poorly.

"At first I used to call the doctor out, but then I got to realise that there was nothing they could really do.

I just wanted to die. I always got flu so badly

Dorothy Preston

"They couldn't give me antibiotics so I just had to look after myself with help from my husband Charles.

"I used to get sore throats and I was achy all over.

"I just knew each year that I was going to get it."

Vulnerable groups are urged to get the jabs

She was reluctant to have the flu jab because she had heard negative reports about it.

But two years ago she decided to give the injection a try.

"I had been put off by some people and what they had said about it.

"Some people had said they had adverse reactions and that they would not do it again.

"And I am always one for letting nature take its course, but when I had it three times that was too much."

Active

Since having the flu vaccination Mrs Preston has been able to have a full and active life and run the local Church Guild.

And now she says she recommends the vaccination highly.

"I tell people to give it a try. I know that the vaccine affects different people in different ways, but if you get the flu like I used to get it then this vaccine is definitely worth trying.

"The vaccine has made such a difference to my life."

The national flu vaccination campaign, launched last week, aims to achieve a rate of at least 70% among people aged 65 and over.

Later this month the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESWI) is organising the "First European Influenza Conference" in October 2002 in Malta.