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Original poster

Doctors - do you get the flu jab?

85 replies

Neverhadakiss · 23/09/2019 18:17

And if not, why not? I spoke to a nurse who said she never gets it. She was a bit vague, mentioning the ingredients as a reason. I was a bit surprised and wondered if that is typical..?

OP posts:
Original poster
Neverhadakiss · 23/09/2019 20:43

@KitKat1985 I thought several strains went into the vaccine? I suppose they can still mutate...

OP posts:
Doyouthinktheysaurus · 23/09/2019 20:43

I'm a nurse, working with older people and I always have it. Work do push it quite hard but given the patient group, it would seem wrong not to have it anyway as our patients will be highly vulnerable if they did get flu.

Greyhound22 · 23/09/2019 20:49

DH ended up with a strain of bird flu a couple of years back (he was popular when they realised in the hospital) he had had the flu jab but the doctor said he could have had it so much worse if he hadn't.

I have a compromised immune system. You don't just have it to protect you. You have it to protect those members of society where flu could be more serious - even fatal.

I get it free - DH gets it at work and I've just signed DS's form to have it done at school.

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dottyp0104 · 23/09/2019 20:52

@Neverhadakiss there are a few strains covered by the vaccine. These are the ones that are predicted (months in advance) of flu season.
This probably explains it better

www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/how-flu-vaccine-works/

teatimedreamer · 23/09/2019 21:07

I work in a hospital and I don't.

In our trust, the 'jab squad' follow you round pestering you and trying to make you have it and make you wear a sticker etc. It's all about targets. They try and entice you by offering a chance to win something in a free prize draw. It's so tedious and gives me the rage.

At no point do they explicitly say (to a large cohort of fucking health care workers) what the clinical evidence is. I find it extremely insulting. If the evidence was clear cut, everyone in my office would have it (many don't currently for the same reasons). The last 2 years it didn't work so well.

nocoolnamesleft · 23/09/2019 21:11

Paediatrician. First in the queue.

usernamexox · 23/09/2019 21:16

Yes I do ( dentist). I have had a few that have made me feel quite poorly for a few days afterwards; best to have it on a Friday, in a non dominant arm & recover over the weekend.

MrsCasares · 24/09/2019 10:15

Retired nurse/midwife. Always had it at work. Am diabetic so am given it at gps now.

If you work in a hospital why would you not want to protect vulnerable people?

BuildBuildings · 24/09/2019 13:29

I had mine yesterday feeling a bit rough and stiff/ achey today. This thread helped me realise its normal (I have health anxiety) I'm more than happy to have it even on the off chance it helps me and others.

WillaDaPeephole · 24/09/2019 13:34

Paediatrician here, I get it every year. I also keep up to date with my whooping cough boosters. Both diseases would kill my little patients- they go through so much, what’s a sore arm for me?

NoDontLookAtMeImShy · 24/09/2019 13:35

It's paediatrics where I do my placecements and it's paediatricians that didn't we're refusing them where I worked.

pommymom · 24/09/2019 13:38

Always do

JenniR29 · 24/09/2019 13:43

Pharmacist. Always have it.

VanGoghsDog · 24/09/2019 13:45

Not medical myself but I got it last year, Oct, as I had flu and pneumonia early last year. The jab didn't have any noticeable effects other than a bit of a bruise.

I've persuaded my parents to get it this year if only for the herd immunity impact and avoiding passing anything on to anyone less well than them.

AveAtqueVale · 24/09/2019 14:02

Doctor here, I always get it. One year as a medical student I got hives after having it and skipped the following year, but have had it ever since with no issues.

AforEffort9 · 24/09/2019 20:00

@teatimedreamer then search cochrane reviews and the literature for the evidence, or refer back to your learning on herd immunity, immunology and pathology. Pretty selfish to not have it if you work with sick or vulnerable people.

teatimedreamer · 24/09/2019 20:06

Aforeffort9 you're missing the point completely. I know what the evidence is.

Crunchymum · 24/09/2019 20:09

As far as I'm aware the vaccination isn't live so those who have been ill after would have been ill anyway as they have caught a different strain of flu/ different bug (anecdotally a lot of NHS staff report side effects but they also come into contact with a lot a germs?)

I've had it with my 3 winter baby's but I now have an autoimmune condition so I have it annually + a pneumonia jab too.

MeadowHay · 24/09/2019 20:12

My doctor relative often doesn't but only because he is so busy that he often doesn't get around to sorting it. Which the whole family nag his life out about. DH isn't a doctor but is training to be a HCP and he always gets his.

bobstersmum · 24/09/2019 20:14

I'm sahm at the moment but always worked in healthcare before. Always had it. I'm having it tomorrow and also having the pneumonia jab as well because I had a horrible 3 week unshiftable chest infection early this year which was absolutely scary, so going to do anything I can to avoid a repeat of that.

Amara123 · 24/09/2019 20:22

Dr and yes. The thing is there can be benefit to the vaccine even if it doesn't cover the exact strain circulating. In past flu seasons we have seen vaccinated elderly people get I'll with another strain but their illness has been less severe with a lower admission rate.

mrsm12 · 24/09/2019 20:28

Nurse here and always get it but the uptake in my area isn't great and most people who don't get it have no real reason.

Fluffycloudland77 · 24/09/2019 21:24

Podiatrist, always have it. I do love a vaccine though.

£10 at the pharmacists & hope for a few days on the sofa looking wan.

Annoyingly I’m always fine though.

MissisBee · 24/09/2019 21:59

Have always got mine. First time I remember being offered was when the swine flu started - hard to believe that's 10 years ago now! Always get an impressive red lump on my arm. Benefits for protecting myself, my family and my patients. I've had flu once and never want it again

Stompythedinosaur · 24/09/2019 22:06

I'm another nurse who always has it - I think it would be very selfish not to as it means increasing the risk of spreading flu to my patients.

People who are allergic to eggs can't have the vaccine, so that may have been what they were implying.