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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:
pinneddownbytabbies · 30/12/2022 13:36

I'd suggest you have it if it has been offered to you. The current flu going round is horrible. My normally fit and healthy dd is 23 and she's had it for well over a week, and was flat out in bed with a fever for the three days up to and including Christmas Eve. She's still not right and it has left her exhausted, with a hacking cough that won't go away and keeps her awake every night.

AhBallix · 30/12/2022 13:46

Proper flu

I've seen this mentioned a couple of times on here. As opposed to what? Fake flu? Some people get a very bad dose of the flu. Some have something similar to a cold. If it's the flu virus, it's proper flu. It can even be asymptomatic.

DinosApple · 30/12/2022 13:46

Yes, I pay for one every year.
I had a terrible bout of flu 19 years ago when I was in my 20s. I was off work for 6 weeks and lost lots of weight.
I can't afford to be off work for that length of time now, plus I have a family now too.

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walkinthewoodstoday · 30/12/2022 13:48

6 of us got flu this Xmas. We have been vaccinated apart from the under 12 months who did end up in hospital and was swabbed hence we know it's flu. It's awful. I will always get the vaccine now

Nat6999 · 30/12/2022 13:53

No, whenever I have had the jab I have ended up with a chest infection that needed multiple courses of antibiotics & steroids. I rarely get colds or flu without.

borntobequiet · 30/12/2022 13:59

Absolutely I would, though I do in fact have a medical reason. It’s protective of yourself and others. Silly not to, if it’s available and you can afford it (that’s a very reasonable price IMO).

F4chrissakes · 30/12/2022 14:01

I get the flu jab every year.
Never ever want to have flu again, I once had it years ago and it completely flattened me. And afterwards my resistance to just about every bug doing the rounds was shot. I had throat infections, ear infections, chest infections, even a horrible skin infection. Prescribed so many antibiotics that I must have rattled.

FlyingHighwithSNkids · 30/12/2022 14:04

I do. Late 30s with 2 disabled DC. Having had to look after them when really ill with COVID with no help/respite (as no-one would help as it was COVID) I'm not doing that again if I can help it.

DuplicateUserName · 30/12/2022 14:05

No I don't and I'm fed up of being constantly nagged by my GP surgery to go and have one.

They make me laugh, you can't get an appointment for love nor money when you want one, even with the nurse.

I'm starting to think it's all about the money.

DowntonCrabby · 30/12/2022 14:06

Yes, I’m 38, no medical need and I get the jab though work. I’ve had the flu twice and it was genuinely horrific so I’m happy to have the jab to prevent/ lessen the effect of catching flu.

MrsAmaretto · 30/12/2022 14:08

Yes I get it through work and would happily pay. Our occupational health dept says it can take up to 2 years to get back to normal after having the flu, as typically you’ll then be weakened and catch every bug going. I don’t want to be seriously ill and then catch everything my kids bring home.

FleasNavidad · 30/12/2022 14:09

"No. I haven’t had a cough, cold in years and maybe only had flu twice over twenty years ago.

The only people I know who are having it are very elderly."

I'm not very elderly but you wouldn't know I'd had a flu jab. Such a daft comment.

mimbleandlittlemy · 30/12/2022 14:10

Self-employed, can’t afford the time off, so always get it. Used to pay for it but now get it for free and wouldn’t not have it.

WinterFoxes · 30/12/2022 14:16

No. I am offered it free now because of my age, but I have never had it as it used to give my dad severe flu every time he had it. DS had the same issue with MMR - he got full blown measles from it, so we seem to be a bit sensitive as a family. I'd rather be hyper vigilant about picking it upin the first place - i never touch door handles or anything in a public place with my bare hands and always wash my hands as soon as i come home. I wear a mask or triple wrap my scarf around me on public transport and just move if anyone near is coughing.

I'm v pro-vaccination but only where necessary and flu jab doesn't convince me. The last truly awful flu I caught was 8 years ago and a close friend caught it too. We were both equally ill from it, with post-viral fatigue for over a year, even though she had had the flu jab.

Grantanow · 30/12/2022 14:23

I'm asthmatic so I've always had an NHS flu jab and now I'm older I continue with them. Flu is potentially lethal and anyway is unpleasant so I would have paid. The more people are vaccinated the less it spreads. A no brainer really (except for the loony anti-vaxxers and some people with genuine reasons).

Creatingusernamesismygame · 30/12/2022 14:33

I’m in early 40s. No underlying health issues. Didn’t get flu jab. Caught flu last week. Didn’t get it badly. Worse bit is now afterwards with fatigue and weakness.
DH same age. Also not jabbed. Caught flu same time. Had horrible high fevers for 3 days and now has fatigue.
DS1 no major symptoms just mild fatigue.
DS2& toddler DD caught it and had it really really bad. 5 days straight with high horrific fevers and fatigue. Never seen them this ill. Was so worried. I will definitely get them the flu jab next winter. Not had flu for decades. But every year my DC have had flu vaccines. Something in me decided not to get them this year. Massive mistake especially with so many cases in schools and community.

randomusername666 · 30/12/2022 14:49

This reply has been deleted

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

Well, you just go for it then. Good luck🤣

Bigminnie1 · 30/12/2022 14:56

I now have a reason to have it as I am having treatment for lymphoma. However, I have had it every year for years and years when I was as fit as a fiddle. One less thing to worry about getting badly.

Abraxan · 30/12/2022 15:14

This reply has been deleted

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

I wish it was the case here that it was only a limited group catching these horrible bugs and flu.

Half my school were ill, children and adults alike. Dd is 20y and it knocked her for six - she's rarely ill normally. It seems to be hitting all age groups round here.

TheOceanClub · 30/12/2022 15:15

Never had it and also not planning to get it.
Even when I was pregnant and they kept asking and asking I politely declined.
Never had anything serious than a cold in my life so I guess I’m just gonna take my chances.

imalreadygone · 30/12/2022 15:16

Ivyonafence · 30/12/2022 12:33

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

Same

Sagittarius25 · 30/12/2022 15:16

Yes, I'm in my late 20s and healthy, however I get it free through work so why not.

Creatingusernamesismygame · 30/12/2022 15:21

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!

I also haven’t had flu for at least 25 years. Never had vaccine either. Used to get dc vaccinated through schools. Missed this year. After seeing what my DC went through last week. I will never miss their vaccines again. It’s horrible. So many young kids with it at the moment and they are very poorly with high fevers. We’ve had covid 3 times and never even had symptoms, so assumed we would be similar with flu especially since we’ve not had it for so many years.

randomusername666 · 30/12/2022 15:22

DuplicateUserName · 30/12/2022 14:05

No I don't and I'm fed up of being constantly nagged by my GP surgery to go and have one.

They make me laugh, you can't get an appointment for love nor money when you want one, even with the nurse.

I'm starting to think it's all about the money.

Yep it's all about the money 🤣🤣🤣.

a lot of people get free flu jabs due to medical conditions, age, paid for by employers etc. Available at Pharmacies, work places as well as GPS.

But even if you don't qualify for free jabs, it's money well spent for the self employed, families with young kids, elderly parents, etc. And anyone who doesn't want to pick up and pass on a very nasty virus.

All these clever people with natural immunity must remember to leave their bodies to science.

Holly6547 · 30/12/2022 15:25

AhBallix · 30/12/2022 13:46

Proper flu

I've seen this mentioned a couple of times on here. As opposed to what? Fake flu? Some people get a very bad dose of the flu. Some have something similar to a cold. If it's the flu virus, it's proper flu. It can even be asymptomatic.

I’ve been using the term “proper flu” because so many people seem to use flu as synonymous with any respiratory virus or cold.

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