To ask if the flu jab actually does anything?

But I've never had flu in the 23 years before I started getting it, I just find it odd because is flu actually that widespread?

How do you know? Flu can be anything from asymptomatic through to fatal. People assume they haven't had flu because they weren't completely bedbound and having to crawl to the toilet, but that's not accurate.

It used to be a live vaccine so people used to get a "milder" version of actual flu. It's not live anymore

You are fortunate not to have known the misery of flu which can keep you in bed feeling terrible for weeks and leave you low and depressed after the main symptoms have gone. Since you are prone to heavy colds, it can't be because of having a fantastic immune system or because of avoiding contact with other people, so perhaps you have just been lucky for 23 years! I've had flu every year for the last few years and it has been horrible.

A quick google shows various studies. One recent one I scanned over says in adults 18-64 the flu vaccine is 36-55% effective.

I’ve had real flu a few times in my life, twice after having the flu jab. The last time I felt so bad (much worse than when I got covid post-2020), that I vowed never to have the jab again. I’ve never had flu since either (touches wood quickly!)

I've never had flu and I'm in my 50s. I have been getting the jab though because I was shocked at how ill my two friends were when they had flu. Both of them were in bed for nearly 2 weeks and had lots of other problems over the subsequent weeks. One of them had about a month off work.

I had flu for the first time a few years ago now and it wiped me out! I then started paying for flu jab each year. A couple of years ago I held off getting the flu jab following the covid jabs, but then came down with flu following a christmas party. There was a large group of us at this party and all of us came down with the flu 2 days later, apart from 3 people who work in NHS and had already had their flu jabs. I don't take the risk anymore!

I also now get annoyed when people have a cold and refer to it as the flu 😂

Flu happens fairly rarely to healthy adults- a recent study showed that people usually get it about once per decade. It can be asymptomatic, but if you get a symptomatic flu you will know it, it's actually a pretty serious illness. It's not a cold! The flu vaccine tries to guess each year which strains will be most relevant, sometimes it's a good guess, sometimes it's not. However it is still worth getting the vaccine- there aren't any downsides, it's a safe vaccine with few side effects, and even a small reduction in flu risk is worth it.

The constant colds you're getting won't necessarily have much to do with flu, but it sounds like your immune system is struggling for some reason. Masking (with FFP2/3) on public transport is a very good idea. I never stopped masking and I can confirm masks do work!

I got the flu hab a couple of years and I got terrible flu soon after. I stopped in 2020 and haven't had flu once since then!. My daughter got it recently and got a bit of flu which she then gave to me but it wasn't serious I'm never getting it again

Many years ago my df got the flu jab for free because of his age, and that year dm, dsis and myself all caught flu. We were incredibly sick, it took me weeks to make a full recovery and dsis developed post viral complications. Df had a “touch of a cold” around the same time. I’ve had the flu jab every year since.

I’ve had flu twice - I’m in my 50s - it’s absolutely hideous so I get the flu jab every year 😬

Last year our unvaccinated niece and nephews all brought home flu (confirmed by hospital as flu). This passed on to multiple members of the wider family who had not yet had their flu jab last year. Those who had their flu jab did not become unwell.

Having now seen what actual flu looks like, having previously been of similar opinion “I’ve never had actual flu”. I will be ensuring I keep up to date with flu jabs.

I'm 50 and have only had flu 3 times (once as a child) but each time I felt so ill I actually wanted to die. (I also caught swine flu but that wasn't too bad!) It's nothing like a cold, even a really bad one. Was wiped out for days whereas I can usually push on through with a cold.

I started getting the jab about 15 years ago as like you, it is free at work. It will ward off the most prevalent strains of flu of that season - either completely or reduce the severity. It won't protect against all strains but honestly flu is so horrible, I still think it's worth it to minimise the risk!

Had real flu once in my life when I was 27. Got the flu jab every year after that and I’ll continue to. Was absolutely awful, never felt so ill.

This. Believe me if you ever got the flu you'd be thankful to be getting the jabs for free. I had it when I was a child and it's the worst illness I've ever experienced. A heavy cold is fuck all in comparison to the flu

Vaccines are meant to not only protect the person having the vaccination but other people in the community too. The more you help to keep flu at bay, then fewer people are ill, then fewer get admitted to hospital. Older people are more likely to have other health conditions, add a dose of flu to the mix and you’ve got a seriously ill person.

If you are in a uni environment - may well be worth getting or if you work with public.

I had flu in second year of Uni - you have more people coming in with more viruses in population that mixes more so things spread - same with public facing roles if that's applicable.

Having said that DH works in HE and has never had flu - though MIL is one of those people who avoided all childhood illnesses and rarely been ill - solid immune system.

In addition to vit D supplements can also try Sambucol Black Elderberry - supposed to reduce cold symptoms for small of cold viruses and you can get it with added vitamins - I was skeptical when we first tried it but does seem to help.

Me and DH started having flu jabs every year 20 years ago. The only year we missed it, we both got flu.
It absolutely works against flu, though of course you'll still get colds. Flu is far worse than the worst cold. Get the jab!

Flu is bloody awful. I've had it 4 times in my life.

Trust me, you don't want it.

Many people are shocked when they actually get flu and realise it wasn't like the colds they always had.

Flu makes you want to die.i couldn't look after my pets with it, so I get the jab.

It's also partly about protecting those more vulnerable people in the population such as babies and older people or those undergoing chemotherapy for example. It can be life threatening, particularly for them.

That in turn relieves some pressure on the nhs over the winter when viruses such as flu are more prevalent.

Good on you for getting it.

Yes. When I used to get flu, I always got it very badly. Since I got the flu jab, I get the flu much less, and the one time I suspect got the flu anyway, it was much, much milder, kind of like a mild achey cold. Instead of being bedbound for a week or two, I felt achey and headachey for about 3 or 4 days.

The flu jab doesn't prevent colds at all, they're two totally different viruses. It's like wondering why the covid jab didn't prevent norovirus, they're different illnesses, even if there are some symptoms that are similar.

I’m also almost 50 and have had proper flu twice in my life. It was so bloody awful that I now always have a flu jab - I will take any chance the vaccine gives of avoiding flu.

It just gives you protection from most likely flu viruses that year.

So if they get match wrong or you get an uncommon flu strain that year you can still get flu that year.

Some flu virus in some people can appear more cold than proper flu but nearly always colds are cause by other viruses - like 200 types of virus can cause colds.

I get it due to having asthma - flu would be worse in me than someone else - our parents get it due to age - again flu carries greater risks. Some industries like medical for example NHS offer it - as what to reduce infections and the work force has high risk of contracting it due to job so offer it but take up levels vary.

At 25 with no underlying condition I don't think matter that much if you get it or not.

To avoid getting so many colds - take vit D supplements - possible magnesium and zinc as well and wash hands more and try and avoid getting run down.