Really terrified about this flu going around

Thanks. It says “The early findings confirm the vaccine provides important protection even though a drifted influenza A(H3N2) strain (also now known as subclade K) currently dominates cases in England, so the protection levels observed in children are particularly encouraging this year”

…which is quite encouraging. Certainly better than doing nothing, then stressing about it, unless that’s your preference.

My 18yo had it last week and she never gets ill, I mean the last time she was poorly was years ago. She was also in bed for 3 days and is still coughing.

If it's any consolation OP, we're a family of 7 all living in a fairly small house and none of us caught it from her.

I found it impossible to book it privately on line at the usual suspects this year - Boots, Superdrug etc. However I got lucky just walking into big Boots pharmacy counter and managing to secure a slot with the pharmacist later that afternoon. You could try that. I’m afraid that we’ll all have to get used to paying for healthcare and not just through our taxes.

Other things you could do - avoid public transport and walk where possible. If impossible, try to sit away from obvious coughers etc and open a window wherever possible. I’ve no idea why all buses don’t have their windows open in flu/ Covid season. Far more people get ill from infections than a little draught!!

100% get the flu jab. I have it every year (you can book it from sept normally ) and definitely think I get less ill if/when I do pick something up. Although it doesn't protect against all strains at least I know I am doing everything to minimise how sick I might be if I do get something.

My DH also refuses to get it. He's loss and the year he did get flu I had no sympathy. He suffered, I have mild cold symptoms.

It wont stop you getting it so following the usual hygiene rules of hand washing etc

Any remember, the news will normally report the bad not the good. So always take it with some caution as to how bad it reports things.

It’s not as effective as it could be this year in preventing hospital attendance for adults (30-40%). It’s higher for children at 70-75%.

That is not to say it is not worth getting, but it’s not as effective as it can be.

www.gov.uk/government/news/flu-vaccine-providing-important-protection-despite-new-subclade

Dh, the kids and I were all vaccinated for flu in Oct/.Nov, as we are every year. We've not had flu/bad colds/similar viruses any winter, which of course is not necessarily because of the flu jab, but we've done what we can and we are all pretty healthy. There are some nasty strains going around local schools. If we get ill then so be it but I don't worry about it.

To be fair, I used to be terrified of anything health issues wise, yet when I had really serious problems after a head injury and post concussion syndrome before being injured permanently by an off label antipsychotic, I then realised my health worries were all a bit OTT.

Dealing with a movement disorder for a decade has put a lot in perspective now. I just shrug off any minor issues (although I know that the flu can be deadly for the immunocompromised and vulnerable grouos).

What will you do if you get seriously ill? It's worrying that you are so terrified of something like the flu.

We usually get a flu jab at Boots, Superdrug or Tesco every year. Forgot to get it sorted this year as it is an extra busy one.
So... I got the flu or whatever hideous virus is doing the rounds. About 2 weeks ago, washed me out for a full week where I slept a lot, but was otherwise "fine" (coherent etc.). Just my body telling me to rest and sleep for 12 hours at a time. No vomiting, but chest infection, fever, chills, headache, lack of appetite etc. Not pleasant - but also "manageable" in case that helps your perception?

I had it last week and it made my whole family feel pretty rough.

Mind you, it was actually not as bad as the time I had flu aged 19 in New York, on a trip with university. I spent the whole week in bed feeling crap and hundreds of miles away from home. That's a lot worse than the last week of being in my own bed.

Yes, it made me ache, cough, feel knackered, runny nose, sore throat, and have weird hives... of course, my period was due too, so it really was extra fun 😁

But doses of cold and flu drinks are absolutely great and made things bearable.

You'll be ok. Just don't worry until you get it.

Because health anxiety has nothing to do with getting vaccinated.

If it helps at all, we’ve all
got it in my house right now and aren’t too bad. How do I know it’s flu? Because we had to take our youngest to the out of hours for an inner ear infection and they swabbed her for Covid, flu etc and it came back positive for Flu A. So they did my husband and I and it also came back positive. Husband was just getting over it and we just thought it was a nasty cold, I had zero symptoms until a day later and so far it’s a sore throat, headache and I’m a bit sneezy. Now my eldest has woken up with it this morning (obviously she hasn’t been swabbed for proof but let’s just say process of elimination it’s likely) she’s ok with Nurophen and fluids.

I know flu can be horrendous, I’ve had it once in my 20s and was bed bound for 2 weeks and I swear to god since then, every time someone said to me “oh I’ve got the flu” I rolled my eyes internally because to me flu was so serious you couldn’t be functioning well, everyone tells you that including tv doctors etc. But we’ve got this strain and it’s no where near as bad as I had it all those years ago.

I'm just saying this because it affects people differently at different times and if you do get it, it might not be too bad. I’d still get the flu jab privately if you’re worried though and you think it'll
put your mind at ease.

edit: before anyone takes offence I’m not diminishing it, I’ve had it and I know how serious it can be , I was very very poorly when I had it first time. But honestly this one hasn’t hit me the same and I’d have just thought it was a cold if the hospital hadn’t swabbed us, if a friend had said oh you’ve got flu I’d have laughed and said noooooo it’s not that bad. So maybe try not to pre panic as if you do get it, you might not even get it that badly

Oh for heavens sake. Have the flu jab. And you e heard wrong; it is effective, according to the NBC today.

@mindutopia its headline mainstream news today.

You can't really tell if you've had it unless you've been swabbed for it. Lots of people getting other viruses and have cold symptoms but the vast majority don't find out what they actually caught so someone might get a cold and tell you they got the flu and it was mild.

I always pay for a private flu jab every year after one terrible bout of flu years ago.

I am immunocompromised and I don’t know anyone with the flu and haven’t heard of anyone being sick even in all my groups for other people with cancer. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Truly, stay off social media. If you get ill, well, you’ll feel like crap for a week or two, but so what? It’s not like your lifesaving surgery will be cancelled.

But get the flu jab. It’s easy to get privately and not expensive. Mine is free, but I get it every year at Boots and they still had loads of slots available back in October when I booked.

My adult children have had it, still got the cough. Whether it was a really bad cold or flu they were both in bed for 3 days. Which isn’t like them.
I was ill at same time but wasn’t as sick. But I had flu jab. I use to pay myself for years then my employer paid and now I’m eligible for NHS.
I think it’s less than £15 which I am happy to pay.

Op hasnt said she has any vulnerabilities though?

I do. I am still pretty sanguine about it all.

You don't have any chronic illnesses/immune deficiencies/general vulnerabilities, I take it...

The vaccine is the best defence against flu that we have. It is not perfect of course but if you are wiorried about getting flu, then get the vaccine. If you are not worried then don't

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/flu-vaccine-providing-important-protection-despite-new-subclade

I've heard the same about the spray/jab which is why I replied to OP giving my own experiences. It's not a made-up story. Who's to say it's not you who's in denial?

Tbf, that's not always the case this year. My youngest DS has only just gone back to work after 4 full weeks signed off with flu in London. His GP said she's seen so many cases like this, especially a version complicated by bringing on sinusitis as well, which is what my DS had. He was very unwell indeed, and although the flu itself is obviously a virus, he still needed 2 lots of antibiotics for complications with the sinus part, and a chest infection . He'd never had flu before (and hadn't got round to getting the jabbed yet - and now can't get it until he's properly recovered) so it did shock him how awful it was.

Apparently younger people are more vulnerable to this year's severe strains too. My DS is only 28, generally fit and well, but has to commute on the train every day, which is no doubt where he caught it.

Althpugh he flu vaccine does not work very effectively to prevent you catching flu (decreases chances by 40-60% depening on the vaccine and flu strain each year) it does reduce the chances and also increases the chances that you will have a milder case than you would otherwise. It also deceases the chance that you will pass it on as you are likely to be less sick than you would have been otherwise with fewer symptoms and also with a lower viral load

None of this is to say that if you have the flu vaccine you won't catch flu and you won't be ill with it, you may be unlucky and even be very ill but the vaccine is your best chance of avoiding this. It is not certain though

I get the flu vaccine every year in October . Have done for the last 8-9 years,. I pay for it at the Chemist . I ring them usually in late August or early September and ask when they will have the flu jabs in, they are usualy available from September onwards sometime. Our local Pharrmacy does this every year and there is no need to book, just drop in wait -usually 10-20 mins and pay £15-20 then get the jab. done

You are just making up stories to fuel your panic and whilst we can all do that please recognise it. I’ve not heard any of those things and I’ve not assumed I will get it . So why are your stories more believable than mine? Why don’t you believe my stories?

You can pay for it.

I don't understand living in a state of panic when you can pay £14 at nearly any pharmacy and get the vaccine.