Really terrified about this flu going around

Ooh is that what the flu looks like under the microscope? Reminds me of a squashed six-pack of mince pies 😂

People talk nonsense every year about the flu vaccine not making any difference. Don’t listen to it. Congratulate yourself that you’ve done that for your child.

Get yourself to Superdrug to get it for yourself. It’s a tenner with a Superdrug card which you can get on the spot if you haven’t already got one.

Had the flu jab, got the flu. Was floored. Onlt coming back to life now.

The World Health Organisation determines which strains to include each year.

https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/history-of-vaccination/history-of-influenza-vaccination

All you can do is be prepared. Get your vaccine, mask up, practice good hygiene, stock up on remedies and be aware. That's it, that's all you can do. Being practical will hopefully set your mind at rest a little.

I think you might be overreacting. I am immunocompromised, over 65 and have respiratory problems and I'm not terrified. I have had flu once twenty years ago and know how poorly it can make you but you can't live life in fear.
I probably take more precautions than most people, I avoid indoor busy places and wash my hands when I get home or use hand gel when out.
It's unlikely to kill you if you are young and healthy.

I only get flu every few years (or covid now as don't test anymore so could be either). Myself and my 4 year old have had something flu or covid like this season already;l. It came on suddenly, fever, aches, sore throat, tired, hers turned into a cough and mine sinusitis. She was sent home from school and missed the rest of the week but caught up. But we were never worried as we knew there was a lot going round as it was on the news. We just accept we will lose the odd week to flu or covid but we aren't in any risk groups so we'll recover. We all get our flu vaccines but accept they have to guess the strains ahead of time so it can't be 100% affective, we don't covid vaccines at the moment as we'd have to pay and they are far more expensive than a flu jab. We don't always catch things from each other as we are careful with tissues and hand washing and our immune systems are different.

In a way, it's always financial reasons as more severe illness costs the NHS more money, plus premature death is a financial burden on the country as well as an emotional one on the families affected. But you can look up the minutes of the meetings where they decide the composition each year and see the motivations stated, it's no secret.

For all of you saying there’s nothing/little to be worried about, you are wrong:

Search Assist

Hospital admissions for flu in England have reached record levels in 2025, with an average of 1,717 patients hospitalized daily, marking a 56% increase compared to the same week last year. Experts warn that this flu season could be one of the most severe in decades, driven by a new strain of the virus.
The Independent BBC

Current Flu Hospital Admissions in England
Overview of Admissions
The average number of flu patients in hospitals in England has reached record levels for this time of year.
As of early December 2025, there were approximately 1,700 patients hospitalized with flu daily, which is over 50% higher than the same period last year.
Yearly Comparison of Hospital Admissions
YEARAVERAGE DAILY ADMISSIONSPERCENTAGE INCREASE
2022
772
-
2023
243
-
2024
1,098
-
2025
1,700
56%
Severity and Strain
The current flu season has started earlier than usual, with a more severe strain, H3N2, contributing to the rise in cases.
Hospital admissions for flu have increased significantly, with experts warning that the peak of the season is still to come.
Impact on Healthcare
The NHS is facing immense pressure due to the high number of flu cases, alongside potential doctor strikes planned for mid-December.
Health officials are urging the public to seek appropriate care and avoid unnecessary visits to emergency departments for minor ailments.

No it’s not true.

Flu vaccines always have more than one strain chosen to provide as broad a defence as possible. The H3N2 strain for this year is different from the one used last year and the subclade everyone is talking about is H3N2 subclade K, so it would definitely be a good idea to update your protection especially if pregnant. The antibodies will also pass to the baby. Even if the virus has mutated there is some protection.
You can see an overview table here (and cross-check with who.int if you want, though you'd have to look the years up separately). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_annual_reformulations_of_the_influenza_vaccine

Yeah, I work in A+E as a HCA in Scotland, I’ve been on shift the past 3 days, it’s been horrendous, back to full PPE, no visiting allowed, not enough side rooms in the department for people who are positive for flu, covid or RSV, it’s a bad strain this year, my mum and dad, both healthy and late 50s have been floored for almost 2 weeks. Just hope it gets under control and this will be the worst of it.

I had flu jab - came down with a cold recently and groggy throat but otherwise ok. It’s taken me 2 weeks to clear but more of annoyance (long ethan normal), I had one day off work as i’d lost voice which unfortunately i do need lol 😆 This was after being exposed to colleague with confirmed flu A. My DD had had the flu sniff and recently like me is sniffing and a slight cough but it’s not come to anything. I haven’t tested for flu but if this was it the vaccine has definitely helped us.

Us too. Taking alot of shaking off.

But this isn't about the flu really, is it? If doctors suddenly declared that this year's flu had been wiped out, you'd find something else to worry about - that's the nature of health anxiety. I expect you worry in the summer too?

Honestly, I would go and ask about getting help for the HA. Yes, flu can be nasty and it can be dangerous, but usually it's just a week or so of feeling rough. Get the jabs, do what you can not to get infected, but try not to worry. But HA can worsen when you least expect it and it can cripple you (and cause you to pass anxieties to your DS), so please do see about treatment for yourself.

Don't worry. Flu comes every year, but chances of getting it low. I know you'll hear everyone talking about having flu, but most of the time they have bad colds. Most of us don't get proper flu often over a lifetime. I've had it only twice. Both times horrible, couldn't get out of bed. Got it Feb 2016 and again Feb 2018. Decided to pay for jab from then onwards. Never had it since then, but might not have got it without jab. If you do or your DS gets it, it's tiresome but not serious unless you have underlying problems. There are plenty of things to have health anxiety over. Don't waste it on flu. Trust me. I worry about health stuff, but not flu. Happy, Healthy Xmas.

Given it's only 70 per cent effective when it is actually based on the actual strain, maybe they are telling us to get it for financial reasons

Can I ask how you know this? I'd be interested as I had the flu last year so I'm trying to decide whether to get the jab or not, if it's last year's strain then I'll have some immunity. I'm pregnant though so a little worried

It doesn't really matter if it appears mild as a cold. It still means they have only been seriously sick with it a few times in their life.

This is why testing for most people is a waste of resources. It really doesn't matter what particular RV you have, the treatment is the same, which is a symptomatic approach.

In the past the main reason they would test people in hospital who were admitted for RV is to keep statistical data on what was circulating and causing serious illness that year. It's only with covid that suddenly people think they need to be tested for what exact RV they have for some reason.

If you’re not immune compromised why are you panicked? I’ve had flu lots of times (literally can’t get out of bed) and I’ve had chemo in the past. I’m fine.

The flu jab can help avoid/mitigate the flu, I don't know why people are suggesting it to the OP, because it is not helpful at all for her problem which is health anxiety. Which tends to just escalate or find another issue to attack itself to.

Over a period of a few years there can easily be over 50 differernt respiratory viruses in a given area. Flu or covid jabs, or any other vaccination, will only address a few of those.

Get good sleep, wash your hands when you come home, be active, eat a reasonable diet, and that will minimise the number you end up experiencing, but you will get them and you need to come to terms with that without being terrified or panicked. Maybe seek treatment for health anxiety if you can't get it under control.

Go get the jab. I paid for it back in October. My DS was due to get his at school last week but was off with flu. He has asthma as well and it’s been absolutely awful for over a week now. He is getting better but was on a constant round of ibuprofen/paracetamol for 5 days solid, not eating etc. Yesterday he was still coughing up crap and he’s absolutely exhausted, usually full of energy and raiding the cupboards. Despite being next to him for all that time the worst I’ve had was a sore throat and a little bit of a temperature.

It’s probably worth trying to unpack what exactly you are terrified of, and to get some therapy to address the underlying anxiety.
Are you terrified you will all die? Are you scared to feel physically miserable or to need to care for a child who feels rotten? Getting to the bottom of what the fear is might help, as well as avoiding searches or articles about it. That will simply lead to you seeing more targeted content.

We all had the flu recently. I won’t lie, it totally sucked and was very inconveniently timed, but we got through it. You would presumably have had difficult times in your life and periods of discomfort, and you are still here and able to post on MN. That should suggest to you that even if you all get the flu and miss Christmas plans, you can and will come out the other side!

You're so frightened you haven't bothered to see how you can get vaccinated against before this thread?

Okie dokie.

I certainly had a Christmas ruined due to coming down with flu on Christmas morning about 15 years ago. It was bloody awful and I slept through the Christmas period and into New Year. I was floored for a couple of weeks and it took a lot longer to fully recover. However no one else got it and I have only had it twice in my life. The first time I was 18/19 and again was floored. But 30 years or so between each occasion. Others experience flu differently and may not be affected as badly. Some people never get it. Until you have it, you are not going to to know as to how you will be affected.

Some CBT will help with the heatlh anxiety but that will be months of waiting to be seen. In the meantime it’s a case of doing what you can to protect yourself without stopping living your life.

Consider a private flu jab. Follow basic hand hygiene measures. Consider minimising exposure to indoor crowed places, you could try a face mask although I think the jury is out on how effective they are, avoid being around people who have obvious symptoms.

In case you do get it, or a nasty cold, make sure you have a reasonable supply of paracetamol/ibruprofen, so if they are needed you have them. Some people swear by First Defence Spray (not tried it myself). Don’t burn the candle at both ends in the next few weeks, so plenty of rest, sleep and gentle exercise. The same applies if you do get flu/cold etc Make sure you have easily prepared foods to hand such as soups (make some and freeze, tinned etc), then if the worst happens you can just hunker down and know there is something you can eat.

I agree that taking positive steps can help reduce anxiety, but don’t go over the top and shut yourself away until spring. A balance approach is needed.