23-year-old almost died after being diagnosed with meningococcal

Lily was enjoying Christmas with her family when she fell ill. Photo / Facebook

A young Sydney woman, who thought she had fallen ill with the flu, says she was shocked when told she was just 30 minutes from death.

Lily O'Connell from Paddington, was enjoying Christmas with her family last year she was started feeling unwell that evening.

Vomiting and suddenly developing a rash on her face, the 23-year-old was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with the meningococcal W strain.

Lily O'Connell (pictured) said she could've died if she didn't get to the hospital when she did.

"I turned the light on and I saw the rash on her face," Lily's mum Steph O'Connell told the ABC.

"It was underneath her skin."

After her diagnosis, Lily was told by doctors at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital that she could have been dead within 30 minutes if she'd ignored her symptoms.

"I am just so lucky I lived three minutes away from the hospital because the doctors told me later that I was only about 30 minutes away from that being it for me," she told Fairfax.

"If I'd waited any longer I probably wouldn't have made it."

Lily, who still suffers from renal and adrenal failure, spent eight days in intensive care, and a total of three weeks in hospital. But she credits her mum for saving her life.

"Thankfully mum had a sixth sense," she said. "I think that's what saved me, that fast response."

The disease destroyed Lily's kidneys, and she currently spends five hours each day on dialysis. Her sister, Grace, will be donating a kidney in two weeks' time.

Lily O'Connell (pictured, left) was enjoying Christmas day with her family last December until she fell very ill and was urgently rushed to hospital. Photo / Facebook

Despite being vaccinated for Meningococcal C, she hadn't received the injection for the W strain.

At a press conference on Sunday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a meningococcal vaccination program for school students in years 10 and 11 will be rolled out across the state in a bid to immunise the community against the disease.

More than 200,000 students have been vaccinated against multiple strains of meningococcal since 2017 in a A$17 million program.

The state-funded program includes the less common W strain because it has an eight per cent mortality rate — twice as high as other meningococcal strains — and diagnoses are on the rise.

The W strain became a concern for the state's health authorities after diagnoses quadrupled between 2014 and 2016.

Ms O'Connell (pictured, left) is lucky to be alive but she still suffers from renal and adrenal failure. She has to spend five hours on dialysis every alternate day. Photo / Facebook

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said adolescents were being targeted by the program because schools are an effective way to immunise high numbers of an at-risk group.

The vaccine is also available for purchase for the wider community and Dr Chant urged people to remain vigilant for symptoms as spring usually brings an increase in meningococcal cases.

"If you experience symptoms including a sudden onset of fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, joint pain or rash of red-purple spots, go straight to your nearest emergency department to seek help," Dr Chant said.

"Acting quickly can save your life."