EVERETT, Wash. -- Parents of two Stanwood brothers, critically ill with Swine Flu, are pleading with everyone to get a flu vaccination if you haven't already received one.
Steve and Mike Wolfe, 31, were living together and became sick in early March. Their illnesses rapidly progressed and both developed pneumonia. They are now in critical condition at Providence Regional Medical Center.
The brothers, born 4 minutes apart, were admitted to the hospital less than a day apart and remain on ventilators.
"We don't know how they got it," their father, Don Wolfe, said. "But they didn't get their flu shot."
Fewer people are getting vaccinated compared to last year, local health officials say, and fewer people have been hospitalized with the flu virus. But doctors say the flu threat is still real and flu season is peaking late this year.
"If we really are peaking, then it is on the tail end," Dr. Gary Preston, Epidemiologist with Providence said. "There have been years when we've seen cases on into August."
The Wolfe family is pleading with others to get vaccinated.
"Now I know how important it is, watching our sons go through what they are going through," Don said. "I would not want anyone to have to experience it."
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