Flu jabs - do you/your family get one each year, if not, why?

[RedCyclamens]

I am curious to understand if it helps or not. I am new to the UK and it is not very prevalent in my country. Will you be getting the jab this year and if yes, is it even available in your local pharmacy?

Thank you in advance for your lovely answers :)

I do as I am on immunosuppressants for Crohn's Disease. I get it every year from the GP. Nobody else in the family has it.

DH does as he’s a GP but I haven’t as am lucky enough to not pick up cold/cough/flu type viruses. DT’s are 21 so can now decide for themselves.

Yes we usually do. Will be this year.

In the UK its not standard to get it unless vulnerable or specific workers (health care etc)

Yes, I work in the hospital lab and DH has asthma, so both get it, DS misses the cut off by only a few days, so he'll get his n3ct year. I got it today, no pain or problems at all. Never had the flu yet.

DH (lung disease) and DD (asthma) do i should as i have an autoimmune thingies, but that very thingies makes me react badly to vaccines so I dont

We already did a version of shielding when there were bad fluy/cold/actual flu going round

DH and I are HCPs so we always do. DC will be this year- first year the nasal vaccine is available for children where we live and after them both having a bad round of flu last year I'm not taking any chances.

My (late) father had lung issues and was really susceptible, and he and my DM got their flu jab free from docs. I also spent a lot of time with him, so I paid for mine, and have continued to do so. I've also had flu (before I got the vaccination), and it was hell so I'm keen to avoid.

I had this year's jab today at Asda, £8. I only rang up to book yesterday!

No. I assumed they are only for the vunerable/elderly etc.

I do. I wouldn't be able to look after the Dc if I got flu. DH gets one through work, we need the money, he commutes on a busy line and we can't afford for him to be ill with it.

I do, because I'm diabetic so I'm invited every year.

Even if I wasn't eligible because of health conditions, my LA pay for all school staff to get a flu jab. So a local pharmacist comes and spends a morning giving flu jabs to any member of staff who wants it in the staff room. The pharmacies aren't offering it for sale to general public until they've got through all the medically eligible, so we've scheduled our school vaccination day for the start of November when they should have a better supply of the vaccine.

Thank you for your answers, these are really helpful. I was under the impression that the norm here is for everyone to get the flu jab during the season. Looks like it is not.

Certain vulnerable groups get offered a (free) flu jab via the health service. Others get offered it die to their job. Then it is also free to purchase from pharmacies etc. That's in a normal year.

This year, to try to lessen the impact of Covid and flu on the health service they are offering the free flu jab to more people. And it is also available to purchase from pharmacies.

Due, not die

I do but I'm immunocompromised (and before that I've always had winter babies so had it every other year due to being pregnant)

Older kids have it at school. Not sure what to do with toddler this year as she is now old enough for it but for some reason I'm a little hesitant.

I've never had one and don't intend to, I'm entitled to due to my job but I'm never I'll so feel my immune system is good therefore prefer not to

*Ill

I'm a nurse so get one, my children get them but my husband doesn't.

I don't, and neither does my husband or my children. We aren't at risk of complications from the flu, so I don't want to put us at risk of a vaccine.

I get all jabs that are part of the national schedule, as do the DC. For flu that means I've had it twice the two times I was pregnant as they were the only times I was in one of the NHS categories.

DH and I plus our four DC all get flu jabs/spray. Having had flu, it was so unpleasant that ill do everything I can to reduce my risk of catching it again.

I'm on my second year of getting one. As although relatively young I have a health condition which would make it getting it harder to overcome. No one else I know of in my family does other ethan grandparents in their 80s.

It's not something which is recommended for people who would easily get over flu. Before I started getting my jab I don't think I'd had flu since I had swine flu in the last pandemic. So not seasonal flu. So it isn't something I see as essential by any means but my GP surgery do it for free so I just get it done.

My partner actually did get fly last year and although he got quite ill he got over it fine. In our 16 years together it's the first time he had it. I think if you are worried and can access a paid for vaccination(are they hard to get right now?) then do it but there are loads of other things you can get in winter like colds which it won't protect you from. Where are you from op?

No. Less than 40% are successful.

I pay for it every year because I don’t want flu.

I also pay for mine each year. I've had flu badly once (6 weeks off work) and I'll do anything to try to avoid getting it badly again.

DH never gets one. DC are entitled through their school years and have it each time.