Millie Campbell, a then 14-year-old from Newcastle, New South Wales—Australia’s “sick capital”—made headlines after her near-fatal 2019 battle with influenza B. This intense battle almost cost her life. Her process started with some mild, albeit annoying, symptoms that rapidly developed into a devastating health scare. Millie’s parents, Ian and Stephanie Campbell, faced the unimaginable prospect of losing their daughter. Now, they extremely regret missing even one flu vaccination.
At first, Millie’s condition presented as just leg discomfort. Within days, she rapidly progressed to multiple organ failure with dire prognosis. Things became critical when Millie needed specialist rescue airlifting to Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney. Just days after her arrival, she went into cardiac arrest, leaving her family in shock and heartbreak.
It wasn’t until the doctors explained to the Campbells that influenza B was the root cause of Millie’s serious state that they freaked out. Surprised after receiving the shocking news. “There was no indication she was going to survive,” Ms. Campbell recounted, reflecting on the harrowing experience. The family had been vocal advocates for getting vaccinated. Once Millie celebrated her fifth birthday, they no longer recognized that her young age put her at risk for serious flu-related complications.
The Initial Struggles and Recovery
The severity of Millie’s case was unheard of for her family’s first-order cousin. Ian Campbell described the moment he received the grim news from doctors: “It was very, very surreal. It actually felt like at the time it wasn’t happening.” As they navigated the impact of their choices, the persistent guilt and regret continued to hover, haunting their journey.
After her illness, Millie started a painful road to recovery. She had to re-learn how to walk after she lost her foot due to complicated influenza B. “Millie’s recovery will be a lifelong journey,” said Ms. Campbell. This experience humbled them and helped them understand the seriousness of influenza which they had not taken seriously beforehand.
We were truly unaware to the extent that it can be a killer,” Mr. Campbell confessed. Their heartwarming story about herd immunity should act like a cautionary tale, illustrating what can happen if people go unvaccinated—even for a single year.
The Importance of Vaccination
As Australia faces a future of greater individual choice in vaccine acceptance following the campaign’s success, the Campbells worry that it will not bode well for public health. Members of the public health community have identified a worrisome increase in misleading or inaccurate information about vaccines, especially related to the flu. Professor Leask commented on this growing hesitancy: “This growing hesitancy seems to be driven by the inability of people to decipher between evidence-based information and misinformation on social media.”
Additionally, Professor Patrick Reading highlighted the often-overlooked nature of influenza B compared to its counterpart, influenza A. “Influenza B often gets a reduced awareness compared to influenza A, probably because A is normally associated with pandemics.”
Protecting yourself through vaccination is about protecting those around you. “Vaccination benefits not only you but the community,” Mr. Campbell urged. He advises families to ask their health care professionals instead of just asking social media about medicine.
Millie’s Triumph and Future Goals
Millie Campbell retains nightmares even now, seven years after her traumatic experience, but she’s turned into a toughened young competitor. In addition to working on independence skills, she has taken up competitive swimming and recently won three gold medals at national championships. She just recently qualified for the World Trials in Adelaide. Paralympic Dreams Now, she has her eyes set on the 2028 Paralympics.
Millie’s inspiring journey is a testament to her astounding determination. It contains an inspiring call to action, reminding all of us how vital vaccinations are. Her mother, Stephanie Campbell, emphasized this point: “Our message is really to talk to your medical practitioner about the vaccine.”
As flu season approaches, experts like Professor Reading stress the need for continued awareness and vaccination efforts. “We see elevated [influenza] circulation throughout August, September and October, so it’s definitely not too late to get vaccinated.”
