Too late to bother with DS11's flu jab?

[WillyWonkaIsAWanker]

Is it still worth getting a private flu jab for my DS11? DS7 had his at school but the older one didn't. Is it now too near the end of the flu season to make it worth it? Or is it still recommended? I've heard of people with awful flu this year so would rather he didn't get it...

It's a nasal spray at 11.
Certainly still worth doing.

Thank you! He's in year 7 though so I think they only give the nasal spray to primary school kids, don't they? I think I'd have to pay privately for a jab at Boots for him...

"Flu season" is December to March, so we are less than a third of the way through it, and its stacking up to be a bad one as far as I can tell. I'd vaccinate.

For an 11yo in Y7 it’s an injection
Yes I’d still get it

My DS only had his at school last week.

It's the nasal spray, unless he has a condition which means he cannot have the live vaccine.
I am a practice nurse, this is my bread and butter!
@xlkhs

You can get the injection for an 11 year old in some branches of Boots/Superdrug, and the latest research is that there's prob not much difference in efficacy in this age group, if I understand it correctly. Our surgery didn't even have any nasal spray to offer!

I'd get it. It's not as protective as I'd like but better than nothing. This is the worst 'flu season for children that I've seen since 2010/2011.

Posted too soon - we were told this by our GP practice, and to go ahead and get injection privately.

Def still worth getting it, even though we're getting into flu season.

Boots don’t vaccinate under 16s. Superdrug do 9 and over and Tesco do 12 and over.

Some boots store will vaccinate 11+, just not all of them.

I'm planning to get mine some time over the Christmas holidays, I work with children but I don't have one of the medical conditions that qualify you for the free jab so I'll go to a pharmacy and pay for it. I was really ill in January with a flu type virus, took weeks to fully recover, I know the jab doesn't protect you from all strains but for the sake of a tenner I'll take the vaccine for any protection it can give me.

As I said, some branches of Boots do - it even says so on their website. Gah!

Anyway, OP, definitely worth doing, but ASAP, as it takes a couple of weeks to be effective.

Get it. Flu season is off to a bad start in the US. He'll be fully protected two weeks after the jab or spray, so very much worth doing.

He won’t get the spray at a pharmacy @filthyanimal, and will only get it at the GP if he is in a clinical risk group.

Privately it’s an injection or nothing.

I didn’t answer the question though did I

Yes still get it done, what have you got to lose?

Thanks all! Took him to boots today and got it done. £12.99 well spent, hopefully!!

Great - fingers crossed for a flu-free season for him!