A BASINGSTOKE man has been left confined to a wheelchair after being diagnosed with a very rare auto-immune disorder which manifested itself just hours after he had a flu jab.

Stephen Cole, 57, was left fighting for his life days after being given the jab back in October 2011.

He was diagnosed with ADEM – a very rare auto-immune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks its own nervous system.

The condition, which affects only around eight in every million people, is usually prompted by either a virus or a vaccine. Stephen said he became unwell just hours after having his flu jab.

He said: “I only got the jab as I had recently been diagnosed with diabetes. Within three hours of having the jab, I was not feeling right, and things just got worse and worse.”

Over the next few days, Stephen experienced symptoms including dizziness and tiredness, and found it difficult to move his limbs.

Suspecting a stroke, medics sent him to hospital five days later, but a CT scan showed this wasn’t the cause.

While in hospital, Stephen deteriorated rapidly, and he was soon unable to breath unaided.

He spent the next four months in intensive care, being moved from Basingstoke to Southampton to Winchester hospitals.

His wife Linda, 58, who works in sales, explained: “Although the doctors weren’t sure what had happened to him at the start, we were told when he was transferred to Southampton that he had ADEM – Acute Disseminated Encephalom-yelitis, which is caused by a vaccination or a virus.”

Stephen was able to return back to his home in Grebe Close, Kempshott, early in 2011. While he has regained some movement in his arms, he is paraplegic and cannot control his legs.

He still works for Hampshire Police, but now works as a workshop supervisor and is no longer able to perform his duties as a mechanic.

He said: “I wouldn’t wish this is on my worst enemy. We always planned to retire to Spain, but we just can’t do that now with me in my condition. We have spent about £50,000 of our savings on modifications on the house to make it suitable for me.”

The couple believe that the flu jab caused the ADEM, although the current medical guidance is there is no proven link between the vaccine and the condition.

A Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) spokes-man said: “There is currently insufficient evidence to confirm that ADEM is a rare side-effect of influenza vaccine.

“Millions of doses of influenza vaccine are administered every year at a time when seasonal infections are highest, and coincidence can also be a factor in such cases.

“Influenza vaccination is important in reducing the complications of flu, and as with all vaccines and medicines, the MHRA continually monitors the safety of influenza vaccine”