To urge you to get your flu jab…

I have had flu once when I was much younger and it’s the most ill I’ve ever been. Couldn’t move for a week. I’ve religiously got my jab ever since - first I got it free because my work had a funded scheme (everywhere I have worked has done this so worth checking) and now I qualify for free NHS (asthma - you need to be taking 2 or more meds for it to qualify I think)

Pretty much everyone I know this year has caught it, and they've been miserable for weeks.

I usually catch every bug under the sun and struggle. I was a bit ill for a few days.

The only time I've been exceptionally ill despite getting jabbed was last year. Some people I know who were vaccinated were hospitalised that year, as well.

I was told they they made a mistake with the variety they picked for the flu jab, and that's why it seemingly did nothing to protect anyone last year? This year, however... I feel quite relieved I had mine. I cannot think of any other reason why I escaped being bed bound for weeks - I can get really slammed from a common cold.

Got my flu jab in November and paid for it. I then found out work reimbursed the cost so claimed the £16 back. It was worth it and my daughters were ill over Xmas but I wasn’t. If people actually did what they were advised at the time then they could have provided more protection for others.

You can stlll get flu.
I had a similar attitude - am in rude health, didn’t want to pay. But from talking to people and educating myself I decided I really didn’t want to be lying in bed wishing I’d spent the darn £20 on the vaccine.

Yes, 2 people on an internet forum who got the flu despite being vaccinated is a very convincing argument against vaccination. And of course everyone you know who is vaccinated. Everyone….

Let’s forget the fact that the flu vaccine doesn’t guarantee that you won’t get flu, that the vaccine is based on the prevalent strains circulating and that not all variants are covered.

Obviously you have better insight and knowledge than all the highly trained, highly paid charlatans trying to inject us with poison/microchips/whatever for their own evil gains. Not quite sure what those gains might be but I’m sure you have the answer to that too. Gosh, all that money wasted on actual research and we could just listen to you and do away with vaccination programmes. Is it just the flu or does everyone you know get ill after other vaccinations? Mmr? Diphtheria? Polio? Tetanus?

Nope. Don’t need it. Haven’t been ill in years. Not even a cold

You’ve both been vaccinated
you’re both floored with flu
not great adverts for a vaccination I’m afraid
Year after year everyone I know who gets flu vaccinated ends up ill with flu - my own Dad being in that number this year

Had flu all Christmas- thought I was getting better and then relapsed. DH, DM, DD, DF have all had the jab and although affected have not been as ill as me. I didn’t have the jab as not in a vulnerable group and could not get one (easily). Next year I will try harder to get one organised as this has wiped me out for two weeks.

I had 'genuine flu' diagnosed with lateral flow test & had very mild symptoms similar to a mild cold - slight tiredness, runny nose & sneezing Didn't feel unwell at all & carried on as normal. It definitely didn't affect my ability to use my phone or take a bath

Flu is the same as COVID with a vast spectrum of symptoms. One person can be severely ill & whereas another will have few/no symptoms.

Completely agree OP. My kids have all suffered badly with the flu this winter with a week off school each, and thats with the vaccine! Last year I was severely unwell with pneumonia for 3 months and it's changed my life. I'm a 30 something woman and was deathly ill for weeks and weeks. I've Completely changed my attitude towards health and wellbeing and no longer take it for granted!

There is nowhere to book it. Others in other areas have posted the same. No availability, presumably because the genuinely vulnerable have used all the stocks.

My mother died of the flu. Twenty years ago now. She was 54, totally healthy, never smoked, barely drank, no underlying illnesses. Completely fine on the Friday and on the Monday I was performing CPR on her when I found her lifeless in bed.

She didn’t have the vaccine.

In a 12 month period I had a bad chest infection, pneumonia that required an ambulance & hospitalisation and flu. Flu was way worse than pneumonia.

I remember limiting how much I drank as I could only manage to crawl to the bathroom once or twice a day. My skin hurt so much I wished I could remove it. Just endless days of delirium, sweating & hoping I might pass out to avoid the pain.

Luckily my employer was giving free flu jabs in November. I was already planning on paying for one.

Oh and I’ve also had I think 6 primary Covid vaccines some boosters, pneumonia vaccine twice, meningitis vaccine and shingles vaccine without any problem. My DD worries because her DSs pick up everything at school and she worries I will get their bugs! Never happened to the point that her entire household gets a virus/bug and I’m the only healthy one to look after them!

I'll have to look that up but I'm hoping it's true. Even better .thanks. .

💯 agree with the op. I’m always first in the queue as I’m immunocompromised but I can say that I rarely even get a sniffle as long as I’ve had my jag

Not at all.
It’s most effective 3-4 months post vaccine.
Also the big peak was earlier this season so I think it’s better you had it then.

Vaccines are recommended to prevent severe disease and reduce hospital admissions. There are many flu strains and, each season, the vaccines are adapted to cover what experts predict to be the dominant strains that particular year.

this information is everywhere, I’m surprised you are unaware of it.

The Covid vaccine doesn’t stay in your system. Entirely your choice whether to have it or not - but it doesn’t stay in your system.

I am the same. Looked in many pharmacies prior to Christmas and none had availability.

My big strapping 18-year-old came down with flu on Christmas Day and I've never seen him so ill. He had a raging fever, agonizing sore throat, full body aches, and he's still exhausted and barely eating a week later. He's visibly lost weight. We did a test and it was Influenza A. I had my flu jab on the 15th and I'm blooming glad I did - I felt as if I was fighting something off for a couple of days after DS became ill but it didn't develop into anything beyond feeling vaguely grotty and headachey. This was despite being in close proximity to him, helping him to take his temperature and get to the loo (he was too dizzy to walk unaided on days 1 and 2), changing his bedlinen, and sitting keeping him company. I haven't had a flu jab before, but I'm 100% going to get one every year now, and DS has said the same. It's been scary seeing him so ill. I've had real flu twice, many years ago, but this was in a league of its own.

Why is it ridiculous? I'd take something tomorrow if it meant getting that shit out of my system. Ive never been so sick with fucking all sorts of illness since I got the jab

Don't be ridiculous

Just book it online and say you are vulnerable. You will get it.