Flu Injection?

[Lumpy]

I just wondered what you lot thought about them.

Donkeys years ago I had proper flu that put me in hospital after 3 weeks of suffering. After that experience I have had my jab every year as I really don't want another bout as bad.

I know that the injection won't stop you getting flu but it will lessen the impact of it.

Recently I have heard that more and more people are refusing it.

I had mine on the 4th Oct and now have a cold (or mild flu) like I have never had before - has anyone else had this?

[Bigmallly]

Working in the local Hospital, we were offered the Flu Vaccination every year & I had it. Some folk do react as it is a strain of the virus that is being injected to enable your immune system to combat it........Anyway, I'm not a Dr so best keep my mouth shut..............

[veggiechicken]

I don't have it.

[Lumpy]

Is there any particular reason VC?

Being a bit thick I have just re read my original post and it seems that my waffle gene was in charge of the composition - What I meant to ask was.....If people can have it why do they choose not to?

[Thelma Sanders]

I must remember to get mine done, and the anti pneumonia one I can have this year.

Now we're in the time of antibiotic resistant strains of flu and pneumonia - I'd rather lessen my chances of getting either!

[Jungle Jane]

My dads having his on Saturday,he always gets a bit of a cold afterwards. I was just talking to him about it. Maybe the new vaccine is different because of new strains of flu virus,so they improve the vaccine,hopefully symptoms will clear quickly.

[veggiechicken]

Is there any particular reason VC?

Something in my medical history that's not relevant here. Sorry if that sounds rude but I've decided not to have the flu jab but to let my body fight flu if i catch it.

[Scarlet]

I've never had one but my OH lost his spleen as a youngster so he has one every year as well as the pneumo vaccine. He often gets the sniffles after it but he feels that missing it he may well end up getting the full blown thing which is worse.

[Alison]

The main problem with it is that they have to guess which strains of flu will be prevalent several months in advance as it has to be ordered in time so it will never guarantee you don't get flu. Laws of average say that they won't guess quite right but apparently last year was particularly bad and didn't hit the mark with most of the variants. Not sure what can be done about that though as obviously pricing so many means you need to order before you know. I don't have it, yes flu is very unpleasant (had it as a student and had to crawl to the bathroom I had so little energy, not the heavy comes get people refer to as flu......) but I don't have a compromised immune system and don't feel the need, particularly based on the first part of my comment ie it's not necessarily effective anyway.

[bramble]

I have the flu injection every year. I never have any reaction to it.
The year before i became eligable for it I got a really bade dose and even ended up with an inhaler.
Since then I have it every year and so far, so good.
Also had the pneumonia one about five years ago.

[Chris11]

Lumpy, if you had the Flu Vax on the 4th, and have only recently got cold-like symptoms 2 weeks later, it's unlikely that what you have now is caused by mild symptoms some people get in response to the Vax.

More likely you've picked up some unrelated common cold virus. Hope it's a mild one and comes and goes quickly.

In terms of why some people don't have it, well no doubt there are many reasons, but there's a lot of scare stories about anything vaccine related and conspiracy theories about 'Big Pharma'. I don't subscribe to them myself, but I think it plays a part in some people's thinking.

[mothhawk]

I don't have it. There are no young children in the family that I could catch it off, and I'm not likely to catch it at work as our hygiene rules and hand washing rules are so strict, so as long as nobody sneezes over me while I'm out shopping, I've a fairly low risk of catching it. Plus I seem to have an immune system like an ox, common healthy bitch, me.

[noviceveggrower]

My dad has the flu jab and he starts taking pain killers a couple of days before other wise he is poorly for a few days after. He has had a major stroke and a triple by pass so they recommend that he has it. My mom has POCD, I think that's the one, and she has to have it. She had the pains in her arm afterwards.
I think the general guidelines are you should have it if you have a medical reason or you work with people who could be affected by you catching or carrying the flu virus.
A lady who works with my sister had the jab and she was poorly after having it. She went to her docs in the end with it. He was off so she saw a locum doctor. This doctor went mad when she told her she had had the flu jab and she had no medical reason for having it. She said only have it if you need it.
They are offering it to Will at school. Only years 1 and 2 are having it done. I've said no as surely the who school should be done or mainly Reception year as they are the youngest and most at risk.

[Nicos]

I've been offered one this year and I'll probably have it as I've not been well for a while.

If your doctor has offered it to you then you must be in the 'at risk' category.
It's then up to you to decide if you wish to decline it against medical advice

[skeggijon]

My OH has it because her business provides services for young people with learning disabilities, but I don't have it in the hope of getting two or three weeks off work and being waited on hand and foot.