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Original poster

Flu jab - do you have it even if no medical reason

115 replies

Outandover · 30/12/2022 12:21

Do you have the flu jab even if you have no medical reason to do so? I’m wondering whether to get it. I had flu once when I was in my 20’s but that’s it.

I am late 40’s, have no medical reason to get it, and only had it once when I was pregnant. I had an alert from the Boots App and they have reduced the price down to £9.95 so I wonder if they or the government are trying to encourage more people to have it.

OP posts:
Daydreamer22 · 30/12/2022 12:46

Flu has been spreading for the last 2/3 months. I work in paediatrics and I’ve never known so many test positive for it. I had mine through work. I had swine flu back years ago and I’ve had it ever since!

eurochick · 30/12/2022 12:48

I never bothered until I got what the GP said was flu followed by bronchitis in December 2019 (although I have my suspicions it could have been an early dose of Covid). If it was flu it was bloody awful and I was the illest I have been in my adult life. I've had my flu jab every year since.

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/12/2022 12:50

I do, so do our adult kids and our grandchild. Mostly to protect CEV husband but we all probably would anyway. Why feel crap for a couple of weeks when you don’t need to. A lot of people don’t understand how rotten full on flu is.

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Funnywonder · 30/12/2022 12:50

I have had it every year at Boots after having flu about 6 or 7 years ago. I hadn't had flu since I was a child and it absolutely floored me - the flu itself for about a fortnight and the after effects (exhaustion, feeling mentally slowed down etc) for a couple of months. I was the only person in the family who wasn't entitled to have it for free. I'll take anything I can get to give me half a chance of never going through that again!

FictionalCharacter · 30/12/2022 12:55

Ivyonafence · 30/12/2022 12:33

My medical reason is I don't want the fucking flu.

Same. I've had it about 3 times in my whole life and I don't want it again, it's horrible.
Some people who have never had it think it's like a bad cold. It isn't. The headache and joint / muscle pains alone are utterly miserable.

Fluffycloudland77 · 30/12/2022 12:58

Yes for about 10 years now. I was self employed so no sick pay.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 30/12/2022 12:59

I have the jab, I had flu a few years ago and was in bed for a week and ill for a month. It’s not fair on my family to be out of action that long.

afaloren · 30/12/2022 13:00

DH and I get it every year. I’ve had proper flu and I never want it again.

catchthedog · 30/12/2022 13:00

yes £10 is nothing to help my odds of not having to deal with flu for a week or more.

RewildingAmbridge · 30/12/2022 13:02

I do because I can claim the cost back through work, used to have a nurse come in and do the whole office at once. If it helps avoid proper flu why not

milkymeg · 30/12/2022 13:03

Usually have it but left it too late to book this year and none to be had locally

Fluffycloudland77 · 30/12/2022 13:07

The nhs criteria is quite broad and most pharmacies will do a free nhs jab if you qualify.

Beezknees · 30/12/2022 13:07

I'm 33, never had it apart from once when I was pregnant. I wouldn't pay to have it.

Dougieowner · 30/12/2022 13:10

Never had flu but have been having the jab since it was first offered to me (my company offer it FOC).

vicaragechristmas · 30/12/2022 13:12

I pay for it and I’m bloody relieved as I’ve just had the flu and dread to think how much worse it might have been without the jab. Ditto DC and DH who haven’t had it or only v mildly.

user1471550643 · 30/12/2022 13:20

Yes I have it too. Used to have it annually when caring for my elderly parents then stopped when they died. A couple of years later I got flu .. was off work for 3 weeks feeling like death … first time off work sick in 11 years .. so I started having them again . Lesson learned!

randomusername666 · 30/12/2022 13:21

Getting a flu jab is preventative medicine.

I've had one every year for 15+ years and haven't caught flu since starting, previously was very ill for 2 weeks or more at least once a year. Also had a pneumonia jab (for over 65's) as I wouldn't want to have that either.

Why wouldn't you?

lurkinglittleladybug · 30/12/2022 13:22

Yes better to have the flu jab than catch the flu… I never used to but caught the most awful flu 2 years ago, I couldn’t even get out of bed I felt so fatigued feverish and dizzy, ended up having about 2 weeks off work, and I really can’t afford to do that! So get the vaccine now.

megletthesecond · 30/12/2022 13:25

Yes. I pay for it. In my 40's, although I am healthy.
Lone parent with no back up so I cannot be poorly.

LillyBugg · 30/12/2022 13:25

Yes I do. I'm the main parenting parent if that makes sense so without me around for a week or so it would be shit for my kids. For the sake of £10, if you can afford it, then why not?

DramaAlpaca · 30/12/2022 13:26

Yes, every year.

APurpleSquirrel · 30/12/2022 13:27

I get the flu jab every year as I have asthma; DC get it at school & DH gets it either through work or pays for it himself. None of us want flu!

FrankTheCondor · 30/12/2022 13:28

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

Movinghouseatlast · 30/12/2022 13:30

Yes. I have always had it as I'm self employed. The one year I forgot I ended up.with pneumonia!

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 30/12/2022 13:32

Yes I do. My child also has his flu vaccine every year. I get it free through work.