Well Pharmacy has joined hands with TV celebrity Steph Parker to create awareness on pneumonia and encourage the public to consider vaccination against the lung infection.
The former Gogglebox star had contracted pneumonia over Christmas in 2018 and nearly lost her life to the illness.
Parker’s symptoms took hold quickly and within two days she was rushed to Southampton General Hospital, where she received necessary care and despite her critical condition, has since recovered.
Alex Zahorodnyj, pharmacist at Well Pharmacy, who interviewed Parker, said: “Around one in 100 adults catch pneumonia each year, typically in the autumn or winter. We undertook a study in late October across 2,000 consumers, which showed that more than half of the population in the UK has never heard of Pneumococcal Pneumonia.
“Encouragingly, 35 per cent of respondents said they were more likely to consider protective vaccinations to help protect their health and immune system this winter. The symptoms of pneumonia can develop as quickly as over 24 hours, or may come on over several days and recovery can take up to three months.”
Parker added: “I am truly thankful to be alive and certainly take more care of my health now as am still not fully recovered, suffering from long-lasting effects and especially tiredness. My message to the general public is to take care – we all need to protect our health and immune system as far as possible.”
