Flu Jab

[Steamfan]

For the first time ever I've been offered one. I'm reluctant to have it in all honesty, and I know at least 3 people who have been really unwell after having it (my DH being one) The NHS info doesn't fill me with confidence either - any thoughts?

[dementedpixie]

Dh pays for one annually. My mum gets one as she's in her 70s. Neither seem to have bad side effects

[Wolfiefan]

It’s not a “live” vaccine so won’t make you unwell.
It doesn’t cover any colds or every single flu strain out there. Just the ones they believe you’re most at risk from.
I always have it. Asthma etc.

[pinkyboots1]

I always have it as I'm eligible for one on NHS and this year we'll be paying to have the rest of the family to have it too. I've never had any problems.

[Fyzz]

Anyone who comes down with a cold after the flu jab was already infected, it's coincidence.
It doesn't cover you immediately, they usually say about 2 weeks.
You can have a flu jab at virtually any pharmacy, i have one booked at Lloyds. If you are entitled to one o the NHS its free, otherwise around £12.

Proper Flu is really nasty. If you'd ever had it you wouldn't hesitate.

[meow1989]

You might get a bit of a headache and sore arm but you can't get the flu from the flu jab. I get one every year and this year especially.

[AnguaResurgam]

You can get side effects from the flu jab, and they can feel like a mild cold. But it cannot actually make you ill, as it's a killed vaccine

[motherofdxughters]

I get one annually. I've never had any side effects other than a sore arm for a day or two.

[BikeRunSki]

I have had one every year for about 10 years with no side effects. This year my employer will pay for me to have it.

[NannyR]

I've had one every year for as long as I can remember and the worse side effect I've ever had is a sore arm.

[Holothane]

Dh has his free as he’s Ellie he I’ll pay for mine, last year I didn’t bother but I will this year. Dh will nag😊 me otherwise.

[Holothane]

Sorry typo eligible I meant to say.

[Marriageoftrueminds]

The vaccine is not live. It cannot make you sick. This is indisputable science, not an opinion.

DH has it every year for work. I have it when pregnant. I think people who are offered it really ought to have it this year to help ease the pressure on the NHS in what is already going to be a horrendous year.

[rorosemary]

It takes a few weeks before it works. So if someone gets sick just after the jab they were simply infected by a person having a virus. The jab itself cannot make you get the flu.

[Elouera]

I've adminstered flu vaccines to patients for many years. I too have it now. Sometimes I get an achy arm for a day, but never anything else. As others have said, its a dead virus, not live, so its not 'giving you a bit of flu'!!!

The year that the H1N1 swine flu was added to the regular flu vaccine, I had many more people complain of symptoms. I assume this is because that viral strain was different to the regular type circulating that people were used to. Anyone that has had proper flu, as opposed to a 'bad cold,' would have the flu vaccine. A day of a sore arm is worth days in bed with a fever and unable to move!!!

Those that say they have symtoms from the vaccine should note that its often given in Autuum/winter when colds and flu are starting up anyways, and many people attribute the vaccine to giving them all sorts of unrelated illnesses. Its DEAD, it cant give you the flu!!!

Another common idea is that once you have it, you MUST have it annually or it weakens your immune system. This again is rubbish. Its advised to have it annually as virues change and mutate, so the vaccine contains different strains each year. It certainly doesnt make your immune system weaker though if you dont have another one. In fact, you'd still have some immunity from even 1 flu vaccine, but it it recommended to have it annually- but certainly not detrimental if you dont.

[Steamfan]

Thank you all for your replies!

[LetMeVent]

Ah well just because it’s not a live vaccine it doesn’t mean it can’t make you unwell. Look at the lovely list of possible side effects. All vaccines have risks and benefits and you have to weigh them up as an individual. I know someone who gets pretty severe “flu-like illness” the week following her flu jab every single time she has one. Can’t be coincidence. She takes a week off work. She still gets them so that she doesn’t get “actual flu” which might also lead to a week off work..

[DramaAlpaca]

I get it every year and always have a slightly achy arm afterwards. Last year I felt a bit unwell for a day or two, but that was unusual.

[LarkDescending]

I pay for it every year and will do so again, especially as I now have Covid-damaged lungs.

Some people experience symptoms afterwards as their immune system responds to the vaccination (there isn’t any live virus in the adult jab, but the body is being fooled into responding as though there is). I have never had anything worse than a mildly sore arm.

[Toomboom]

You cannot become ill from the flu vaccine. It isn't a live vaccine [ injection, not nasal spray ]. It is just coincidence if you get a cold following the vaccine.
My son and I have it every year, and apart from an achy arm sometimes everything else is fine.

[QueenPaws]

I'm on the shielding list due to being severely neutropenic which means I can't fight anything off - I get pneumonia from a simple chest infection!
Flu jab I have every single year and the worst I had was a sore arm

[vapeinafleshlight]

"I know someone who gets pretty severe “flu-like illness” the week following her flu jab every single time she has one. Can’t be coincidence. She takes a week off work."

😂 of course she does. Awesome. Wonder if my employer will go for that. An extra week each year

[LetMeVent]

vapeinafleshlight

She does. She gets high temp, shivers, aches, bad cough and exacerbated asthma. She always says “At least it isn’t flu.”

[Ghostlyglow]

Have one. Take a couple of paracetamol in the evening after you have had it.

[HappydaysArehere]

Real flu, not the symptoms sometimes described as the flu, is an absolutely flattening experience which can last for weeks. It should be avoided if at all possible. I have had the flu jab regularly every year for a long time and no ill effects. Don’t be put off by the odd person who says it made them unwell and consider the masses who line up year after year to have it.

[squeekums]

Never had it, no plans to start