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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:

Stompythedinosaur · 24/09/2019 22:08

Or possibly they are vegan? The vaccine isn't vegan.

Lyingonthesofainthedark · 24/09/2019 22:14

I get it because I'm not selfish.

DaveMinion · 25/09/2019 02:33

I am not a dr but I am a HCP (almost) and am asthmatic so eligible that way too. There isn’t actually much evidence it works to prevent flu if you look into it academically. I also found (with probably not much evidence) that I used to get more chest infections in the year I got the jab than the year I didn’t.

Last year, however, an anaesthetist I work with somehow convinced me to have it so I did. I had 2 chest infections this year after not having any for 2 years. Coincidence or not? Who knows.

Not sure I will have it this year.

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Original poster

Neverhadakiss · 26/09/2019 17:01

Thanks everyone, not sure what the nurse was saying about the ingredients, she’s not vegan. She said something about the ingredients coming from the rainforest. Bit bemused!

OP posts:

bellalou1234 · 26/09/2019 17:08

Yes nurse here and always do.

AnnaMagnani · 26/09/2019 17:17

Doctor - always. I have asthma and the flu is horrendous for me.

A couple of years ago I got the flu anyway, apparently it wasn't a great year for the jab. DH caught it from me - he'd never had the flu before and thought he was dying. But not as much as me who needed a course of steroids.

Both of us were useless for a week, me for another week after that. Bloody awful.

Flu jab is just a mildly sore arm.

happypotamus · 26/09/2019 17:18

I am a nurse and always have it. Personally, I have never felt particularly unwell afterwards except for a sore arm. I have definitely not felt anywhere near as bad as I would if I had flu, and I am exposed to patients with flu so there is a fairly high chance I would catch it at work if unvaccinated. I don't see any reason to take that chance.

Hovverry · 26/09/2019 20:16

I’ve only had flu twice. Is that about average for an adult? People speak as if it’s a yearly occurrence so they obviously don’t know the difference between a bad cold and flu.
I don’t get the jab.

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/09/2019 20:31

I’ve never had it. My mum had it at 39ish and thought she was dying, the dr visited and said there was no room in hospital so she’d have to stay at home.

Chinnychinnychinnychib · 26/09/2019 20:38

Nurse here. Always have it. I had a bad virus a couple of weeks ago and seriously would have killed some of my patients with it if I’d gone into work. I couldn’t live with myself if I gave flu to anyone.

Bonnylassie · 26/09/2019 20:38

A PP said about people with egg allergies not getting the vaccination. Advice changed a few years ago. As long as you haven't been in intensive care with an allergic reaction to egg you can have it (even if you are anaphylactic). My boy has an egg allergy and had his last year and now he is at school should be getting his soon.

taybert · 26/09/2019 21:01

Doctor, always have it now. One year I didn’t because I was working in A+E on silly shifts and I missed the clinic then didn’t find the time to go to occ health. Obviously I got flu. I had to miss work which left an A+E department short in the middle of winter. Fair to say I wasn’t very popular on my return and I haven’t missed it since!

mumprocrastinating · 26/09/2019 21:09

I'm an ICU consultant. I get it, my husband gets it, and our teenagers get it. It protects me, but more importantly my patients & my elderly parents.

40andfeelingit · 26/09/2019 21:11

Nurse. Have it every year and give it to other staff

icanthelpyou · 26/09/2019 21:15

I work nhs and was surprised on the low uptake by the nurses I work with

Duckswaddle · 26/09/2019 21:16

I work in a children’s hospital and every year we have kids who die from flu. Why anyone wouldn’t have the jab to do everything in their power not to spread germs is beyond me.

Swishyswash · 26/09/2019 21:25

Nurse. Have it every yeat, appointment to have it is tomorrow.

MaybeitsMaybelline · 26/09/2019 21:28

DD is a radiographer and always has it. Says she is spluttered over frequently. Takes anything she can to fend off the bugs.

VioletCharlotte · 26/09/2019 21:29

I work for the NHS. 75% of staff at my trust had the flu jab last year. The ones who didn't were asked why not. The most common reasons were fear of needles and not being able to get it done at a convenient time (some night staff).

I think a lot of people don't realise that you can carry and spread the virus even if you don't have any symptoms yourself. It's not just a bit protecting yourself from flu, it's so important to prevent from passing it on to vulnerable/ elderly people.

Fizzypoo · 26/09/2019 21:34

Family member who is a nurse never gets it. I've had it once and it made me feel awful for days.

I've only had flu once (it might have just been a terrible cold). I'd rather be I'll once every 3ish years with flu rather than be ill and off work 3 days a year from the jab.

Berthatydfil · 26/09/2019 21:38

My ds is a medical student - he was offered it when on placement in hospital and obv took it.

longtompot · 26/09/2019 21:40

We will all be having it for the first time this year as our yd will be on yet another immuno suppressant and has asked (told) us to have it. She's been on various similar drugs over the years, but wasn't so worried about us having it then as she was mingling with more people than she does now. I don't think my ds will be impressed as he hates injections.

dancingmom · 26/09/2019 21:42

We had whooping cough last winter and it was vicious - whole family sick for months. Does anyone know if that is available privately? Not available in NHS apparently.

longtompot · 26/09/2019 21:42

@Fizzypoo if you think flu could have been a heavy cold, then you had a heavy cold. Flu is awful! I've had it twice, and was delirious for several days.

Tableclothing · 26/09/2019 22:10

dancingmom the whooping cough vaccine immunity lasts 10 years and I imagine immunity from having had the disease would last a similar length of time. You can get the vaccine privately but it only comes with polio/tetanus/diphtheria as well so costs about £80.

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