People saying they’ve never had flu?

I’m 55 and have had some bad colds but I’ve never had Influenza.

My late Mum never had it either and both her parents didn’t catch the 1918 Spanish ‘flu even though they were very high risk, being in their 20’s with GD having just got back from the war with a lung condition and a limb lost, and GM being pregnant.

There might be something in your immunity theory.

Surely you mean you're not eligible for a free jab?

If you're getting flu that often it's probably worth the £15 Boots charge.

Yes, I think so. I’ve never had full on flu, even when there were three people sick in bed with it, in my family at that time.

I've had flu twice. I've had bad colds and viral infections that have included fever, aches and pains, tiredness etc. Flu was a lot worse though, I thought I was dying. First time round I fainted trying to get out of bed, my mum had to assist me changing after an accident which was awful. 2nd time round I wanted to tell my DH to call an ambulance but I couldn't get the words out. I do think flu is used by some people to describe anything that is more than sniffles and a sore throat but there is plenty of infections in between that and flu.

Never knowingly had it. I don’t often get viral illnesses tbh - maybe a bit of a sniffle once a year. I did get pneumonia with Covid in the first wave, but then never had it again.

55 years old. Had it once in my 20s, never since, not had covid either.

I’m late 40s and had it for the first time 3 weeks ago, I was completely knocked out by it for 9 days. Only had the vaccine while pregnant. My mum had it once at 18 and never since, she’s in her 80s. She always described it as “even your eyelids hurt” and she wasn’t wrong.

Well seeing as though most people don't get tested, I suppose we don't really know.

Anyone can have the jabs. They're only about £14.

I'm 35 and have never had it.

I had it once. Over the Millenium New Year. I was in my early 20s and had been planning the celebrations for months. I think I woke up and saw fireworks out of my bedroom window, but other than that the whole season passed me by. Never been as ill before or since, thankfully.

Mid 50s - once when I was 14 then I had post viral syndrome which led to glandular fever. Mid teens were fairly miserable for me!

I once got flu at school and fainted. It was termed red flu. I once got flu along with my daughter. She fainted in the bathroom and I was too ill to get up to see to her. I just think flu is on another level. I pay for the vaccine now.

Never had it 🤷‍♀️

i have never had it
i am 60
most years i have the flu jab

I’m not sure, but guess that works in both directions. How does the OP know she’s had flu so many times? She thinks she was bad enough for it to be flu, I don’t think mine was bad enough to be flu. I might be wrong. I mean I’ve felt absolutely awful, too ill to go to work but I could get out of bed.

Dh had what I think was flu once and literally crawled down the landing when he needed a wee. But I have read you can have flu and not be bed bound so maybe I have had flu?

@Cumbrianlassie Yes me. Never had it. Had colds where I’m a bit tired and snivelling with a sore throat. Never flu. These days I get a vaccination but yes, I think it’s generic. We don’t get flu!

I've only had it once, about three years ago, before my flu jab appt. Two full weeks of lying in bed unable to move, suffering through every second. Every morning I would wake up hoping to feel a bit better and it just went on and on.

I reckon I might have had the flu once in my life. I'm 40
I was in bed for a about 5 days and don't remember being so poorly before that. Was really shocked. So it wasn't just a bad cold. And it wasn't a sickness bug

I honestly think I have only had actual flu once in my adult life. Colds aplenty, some really horrible ones, but actual flu just once. It wasn't like a cold with that slow, recognisable buildup- it hit me suddenly like a tonne of bricks.

DH reckons he’s never had flu. He’s recently found he’s HLA-B27 positive - the ‘Neanderthal gene’ - which is believed to be associated with better immunity to viruses including influenza . Downside is various autoimmune conditions, on balance he’d probably rather occasionally have flu.

I'm 54 and have never had flu. I haven't had a cold for around 15 years. Only had 3 days off sick in 35 years. However, i do have bloody tinnitus!

I've only had it once and it was about 25 years ago. Two of my kids have had it and I didn't catch it when I was caring for them and my ex-husband had swine flu and I took care of him and never got it.

31 and I’ve had it once, bloody horrible. Totally different in intensity to a bad cold. I had two seizures which was frightening because I was alone and have never had one before (or since!). I’ve only had the flu jab when pregnant but tbh this thread has reminded me that my employer pay for them so I might start getting them…

Covid was a walk in the park for me! I thought it was hayfever.

I have had it twice, once in my teens and once in my early thirties. My mum actually stayed at home, from work, to look after me, when I was in my teens because I was that unwell. The second time i had it, DH did short hours at work so he could be there when the children were at home because there was no hope of me looking after them.

A few days after last Christmas, I was in bed with a heavy cold virus and a lot of people said “ooh, have you got the flu” nope, I absolutely did not have it.

DS1 had it 3 years ago. He’s a fit, healthy solider. We had to drive up and bring him home because he was too sick to look after himself or be left alone. DS2 was hospitalised with flu when he was 2.