Have You Had Your Flu Jab Yet ?

[Canary42]

Feeling very self-righteous having just had mine, with no after-effects.

Mind you, the cynical side of me believes it's a harmless placebo to support the obscene profits of the Drug Giants', ripping off the People's NHS again.

As it's not guaranteed against all strains, how would we ever know whether it's effective or not ?

[Buenchico]

>>> Do you have to be over a certain age to have a flu jab?

65 years, 237SJ, unless you've got a weakened immune system:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/

[237SJ]

OK. I won't bother then.

[Toorak]

In Scotland at least you need to get the jab via Gp if you are over 65. My understanding is that there is a stronger jab for older people and supermarkets can’t administer it.

[Toorak]

But if you want the jab you can get it via supermarkets and pharmacies

[tonyav]

I'm not 65, Chris. I had a phone call from the doc's asking me to come in for a flu and pneumonia jab.

[Mamyalynne]

//Can I get the flu vaccine privately?
Adults who aren't eligible for a flu vaccine on the NHS can pay for a flu vaccination privately. The flu vaccine may be available from pharmacies or in supermarkets. It is provided on a private patient basis and you have to pay. The vaccine costs up to £20.//

Most Supermarkets will be cheaper than that.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-vaccine-questions-answers/

[237SJ]

I don't think any of my family ever had the flu jab. Didn't do them any harm. I think there is a lot of hype around it

[Toorak]

I got mine ( because I am too young :-) at Sainsbury's for around 11 quid

[kvalidir]

I'm 20 and got mine on the NHS because I'm diabetic.
£11 not to have flu is the bargain of the century- I've had flu and it's awful, really get it done if you can, you don't want proper flu :(

[237SJ]

I had flu when I was 5 years of age but I don't remember it. I had it again in the late 1980s. I can clearly remember the moment that I realised I was going down with it and I managed to shake it off within 3 days and go back to work without going sick. I don't know how I managed that. I can still remember the muscle pain.

[Mamyalynne]

It's kept a lot of people (including small children) out of hospital - but if you are fit and well and not working in certain areas, then it really is your choice.

[kvalidir]

Without trying to be a patronising twit if you got over it in 3 days it's unlikely to have been flu, more likely a rotten virus. Flu is usually a 3 week job almost without exception, and £11 to avoid it is a bargain x

[Canary42]

I've not heard of the pneumonia jab - how does one get it ?

I had pneumonia in 1953 and it was most unpleasant.

[Toorak]

I think that if you are 65 + the pneumonia jab is administered at the same time as the flu one. If you are in any doubts ask your GP

[tonyav]

I had the pneumonia jab the same time has I had the flu jab, Canary. If you want this jab speak to your doc.

[237SJ]

Kvaldir. I can remeber the exact moment that I got the flu. I was working and staying in an hotel in Frankfurt. It had a 15m pool and I swam 100 lengths of it. I felt fine when I got into the pool but when I got out of the pool I felt a bit shivvery. I went back to London the next morning and felt like death. I was supposed to fly on to somewhere else when I got back but our flight was delayed and we went out of hours so I went home which was just as well. I went to bed for 3 days and took to my bed. I remember that it took all my willpower just to raise my head off the pillow, or to go to the loo/refill the hot water bottle/ make a cup of tea. I couldn't understand why I had so much pain in my buttock muscles, inside thighs and upper arms. I later found out from a nurse friend that flu sets into the weakest point and my weakest points were the muscles that I had used whilst doing 100 lengths of swimming. That particular friend's mother contracted the flu during that time and she became jaundiced because she was an alcoholic - her liver was her weakest point.

[Toorak]

That sounds like my experience - it is totally debilitating.

[237SJ]

Yes it is. Everyone is different though. Some people shake it off quickly and some people don't. Depends on your health and compromising conditions