Fed up of hearing about the flu

Yes you’re probably right and also flu can be worse than Covid in some cases so it probably doesn’t make sense I just wondered .

I think that would be too hard to cover up. Doctors and nurses would be telling us the truth

We have all had it and its horrid.However when I see stuff pushed out in this way I always wonder what other news they are trying to bury..call me cynical!

I'm not sure what I've had this last week as I've had the flu jab, didn't have a temp and tested negative for Covid but it's bloody horrible.

I went from 'hmm my throat feels weird' to non stop sneezing and being completely unable to breath out of my nose in about two hours last Thursday. Got progressively worse with the most horrific cough the force of which pulled all the muscles in my back and stomach and left my throat raw. Feeling unsteady, washed out, no appetite.

I forced myself out briefly today for the first time in a week as had to run an urgent errand, and needed a 2 hour nap when I got back.

Prior to this autumn I'd not had a cold for 6 years but this is the second round since mid September.

I work in a school medical room and a couple of weeks ago I was seeing more temperatures in a morning than I normally see in a month.

I can see why the media is making a fuss tbh.

I wonder if it's not helped by the fact there was very limited NHS covid vaccines this year. This is likely to greatly increase the spread of covid and I wonder if people were more inclined to go out and get a flu vaccine if they got a covid vaccine at the same time.

Once you've heard it once, i'd say turn it off or switch over. I get what you're saying though as I watched absolutely everything during Covid and it drove me loopy. I was seriously scared for my life and my anxiety shot through the roof. No one needs to feel like that as stress and anxiety can also lower immunity.

So many dirty bastards coughing and not covering their mouths, it’s a shame they need reminding.

I had a woman literally cough her phlegm onto me my face last week.

I used to be very lax about things like this until ds2 came along. He has recurrent infections and has ended up in hospital on nebulisers and iv antibiotics on multiple occasions. He’s currently having immunology blood tests done. I’m very worried either ds will catch this flu.

I agree that it’s newsworthy to an extent but surely everyone now knows that it is a particularly nasty strain and is hitting earlier than usual. I know lots of people who have said how worried they are ablut catching flu, but who haven’t bothered to get vaccinated. I realise the vaccine won’t give complete protection against flu, but don’t really have any sympathy for anyone who catches it this year who hasn’t had the jab.

England hospital beds 1980 approx 356,000, population approx 47 million
England hospital beds 2025 approx 148,000, population approx 59 million

And we wonder why hospitals are overwhelmed in flu season. Where is all the money going?

I've only had flu a few times, so wouldn't normally bother, but I'm on immune suppressant meds atm, so will see if I can get one.

Mind you, I've no idea if being immuno-suppressed will make the vaccine less effective.

I'm not a vaccine sceptic - got mine ages ago and have finally convinced my husband to let me take our son.

But I do think that unfortunately, the "the Nhs is on it's knees" line has been played one too many times to work in public messaging.

I avoid the news as it makes me anxious (hate hearing about Ukraine, Gaza etc). So I’m aware of the flu but it’s by no means annoying me. You could easily avoid hearing about it. Obviously it’s more important that people are informed to avoid deaths. A few people being mildly annoyed is such a non issue.

You’re not alone. They’re really warming up for a return of masks and lockdown.

I'm not fed up hearing about it.

Schools attendance policies (imposed by government to a degree) and their impact have contributed, I think. The one that is more easily avoidable are those companies insisting on five day a week office attendance when the job can be productively done (or even better) with two or three.

Absolute sympathy! I only have one who is now 7 but from age 2 to 5 it was constant. He wasn't generally susceptible to vomiting bugs but he does have asthma so every sniffle became a cold, then viral wheeze, then an ear infection that the Dr would never give me antibiotics for until it got really bad (with more wheeze). 2 years ago DH caught a cold from DS which became tonsillitis on Christmas Eve and then we all got COVID for the third time at New Year.

Anyone with DC at university needs to get the vaccine, because it is ripping through the student population.

Just be glad you didn’t live in Ireland during Covid.

Had my vaccine got an awful dose in oct. Took ages to shake it off. Hard as we on school bus they always coughing!!

I think there needs to be calmer messaging, there’s a difference between:

a) the winter flu season has started earlier than usual, hospitals are showing signs of an earlier influx of patients with flu, and we’d encourage all who are eligible to have their flu jab (or pay for it privately if possible)

&

b) SUPERFLU is causing CARNAGE in hospitals with several A&Es turning away ambulances

Health anxiety is real, and can cause many people to feel they need an ambulance for their minor sniffle instead of usual self-care and common sense (not very common).

Tbh I’m just done with winter bugs in general they have ruined my life now for 5 years. I’ve lost track of the number of occasions we have had to cancel because one of the kids has been ill. Things are slightly improved now the oldest is 6, but for a while I would sob every night at how exhausted I was and how I would be sacked for the time I was taking off. Think 3 week hacking coughs where I was up multiple times every night, multiple hospital trips for breathing difficulties, thousands of GP appts and just relentless long dark nights with a sick child. It’s actually been the main factor in why I’m not having any more children, I swear I have some kind of very mild PTSD reaction now whenever one of them gets sick as I know I’m in for yet more nights of no sleep, worry etc

Many of my mum friends report the same

It's awful, isn't it and it can leave you low for weeks.

I'm sure a lot of the vaccine refusers have never had proper flu themselves, or have a relative who's died. Utter selfishness.

I wondered about this too. Interesting that it's the year the covid vaccine age has been increased for the vaccine too...so less will be vaccinated against it

Maybe they don't want to scare people about it, but they never worried about that in the past did they

No one is 'falling' for anything. What a ridiculous, uninformed post.

Isn’t this years vaccine only 30% effective due to the strain? I thought that’s why numbers were high. Ido know it provides some protection but odds are you’ll still get ill.

Hope your DD is recovering ❤️‍🩹