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Original poster

Is it ok to get a flu jab if I'm not given one free?

49 replies

lemonyaid · 30/08/2023 20:56

I don't want to pay for one if its going to mean someone eligible for a free one doesn't get one but I'd quite like to not get flu. If I pay for one does it come out if seperate stock? Is there enough to go round?

OP posts:

Ozgirl75 · 30/08/2023 23:29

I’m not eligible for the covid jab, but my best friend is having treatment for cancer and id like to get a covid booster as I see her once a week and take her to appointments from time to time. I’m not a carer and we don’t live together and I’m more than happy to pay, is that possible over here? In Australia you just get it done at the Drs or in a pharmacy, can you do this here too?

Ozgirl75 · 30/08/2023 23:30

robinsnest1967 · 30/08/2023 23:24

How long should the flu jab protect us for? Just wondering if we had it in September, would that last until the Spring? I've just got over covid (again) which was awful, but last Christmas I had covid which then developed into pneumonia, so I'm really worried about this winter.

In Australia we’re advised to get the flu jab no earlier than mid April and that should cover until the spring in September.

On that basis, mid September would cover you until around Feb.

EmilyBrontesGhost · 30/08/2023 23:36

You don't get good health from a needle . . .

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Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health

msbevvy · 30/08/2023 23:40

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 30/08/2023 21:07

I get one for free now - but in years gone by I've paid for one on several occasions . I would assume that if there was any difficulty about sourcing them then they wouldn't go to the pharmacies until GP practices had had the stocks they would need for all those recommended.

Unfortunately that is not the case.

A couple of years ago my extremely vulnerable DH had to wait months for his NHS flu jab as the GP surgeries and local pharmacies couldn't get hold of stock of the version for under 65's. I was told more than once that it was because of all the places that were selling it to people who didn't qualify for the free jab.

TomatoSandwiches · 30/08/2023 23:49

EmilyBrontesGhost · 30/08/2023 23:36

You don't get good health from a needle . . .

What's that got to do with anything?

EmilyBrontesGhost · 30/08/2023 23:56

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

OdeToBarney · 31/08/2023 00:06

Thanks for the reminder, I have just booked mine and DHs!

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 31/08/2023 00:10

lemonyaid · 30/08/2023 21:59

That's good! I've managed to book for September so they must be getting them out quick

Show quote history

I got a message from my GP in JUNE!! To say my vaccine was reserved for me. My dad had the Same text so I suspect those who need them for free, have them set aside (if you get me) early, meaning they can work out how many they need for those paying

7eleven · 31/08/2023 00:29

I asked the pharmacist about this, as I was also worried about taking a vaccine from someone else who needed it more.

He pointed out that, mostly, it’s the vaccine for the over 65s that is given out in vaccination programmes. As I was under 65, it didn’t affect them.

@EmilyBrontesGhost thats a wild claim. Any irrefutable evidence? I’m thinking probably not.

ManchesterLu · 31/08/2023 00:36

Everyone who's eligible to get one for free will get one if they want one. Don't worry about it. The more people get vaccinated, the less chance we all have of it spreading to us - so thank you :).

AIstolemylunch · 31/08/2023 00:38

The paid one is normally trivalent and the free one divalent or whatever it's called so I reckon they're separate stock. Over 65s definitely get a different one from under 65s, even on NHS.

Sidge · 31/08/2023 08:55

AIstolemylunch · 31/08/2023 00:38

The paid one is normally trivalent and the free one divalent or whatever it's called so I reckon they're separate stock. Over 65s definitely get a different one from under 65s, even on NHS.

No they’re all quadrivalent vaccines. The over 65s one just has an adjuvant to make it more effective in this age group.

We (GP surgeries) buy our vaccine in based on our numbers of eligible people based on the national criteria, so we don’t have many “spares” for non eligible people. Pharmacies can buy what they like based on predicted sales.

@robinsnest1967 the flu season is classed as September to end of March, so the vaccine covers that period.

@Ozgirl75 you won’t be eligible for an autumn Covid booster, and won’t be able to buy one. I would suggest having a flu vaccine to protect your friend, wear masks, wash hands thoroughly and encourage her to have her flu and Covid vaccines.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 31/08/2023 09:04

Yes you're definitely overthinking. DH pays for his as he's self-employed. £10 for a 'flu vaccine compared to 2 weeks off work is a no brainier. First time I had the Flue I developed complications and had 3 months off work. There is no way we could afford for him to be off that long.

DS is off to Uni so we'll be paying for him to have it too.

AppleKatie · 31/08/2023 09:08

If there was a shortage they wouldn’t allow you to buy one.

OCaptain · 31/08/2023 09:48

@EmilyBrontesGhost

Quite a lot I would have thought.
Bearing in mind the OP is desperate to get injected with unknown substances supplied by criminal cartels.

You're again showing your ignorance regarding vaccines and their purpose. What is in the adult influenza vaccine?

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 31/08/2023 10:47

BusinessClass · 30/08/2023 21:30

I had my first free one last year as I was 50 - now ive got to pay again 🙄 😆

Oh - have they changed it again ? They said last year they were dropping the free vaccines for the 50+ but then they backtracked .

Wonder if we'll get a Covid boost again ?

Peony654 · 31/08/2023 10:49

I always pay for one. I think GP surgeries get theirs separately for those who get a free one

afaloren · 31/08/2023 11:14

I always pay for one. I’ve had proper flu and one of the times I genuinely thought I was going to die. Never again!

Original poster

lemonyaid · 31/08/2023 20:17

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 31/08/2023 00:10

Show quote history

That's reassuring

OP posts:

Original poster

lemonyaid · 31/08/2023 20:18

ManchesterLu · 31/08/2023 00:36

Everyone who's eligible to get one for free will get one if they want one. Don't worry about it. The more people get vaccinated, the less chance we all have of it spreading to us - so thank you :).

I'm doing it for selfish reasons really- I had flu once and don't ever want it again

OP posts:

Araminta1003 · 31/08/2023 20:19

We have been getting free ones paid for by work for years. They don’t want us to get ill! You are overthinking this. The pharma companies make the money - I think you can get one for £10 in most pharmacies anyway

Ohmylovejune · 31/08/2023 20:22

I pay every year and get it early at Boots. I still did it that way when 50.pluses were free as its so convenient and I can fit it in with my day off.

Ohmylovejune · 31/08/2023 20:26

I'm also doing it for selfish reasons..I was very ill with something about 6 years ago. It wasn't flu but it floored me in a similar way. I really want to avoid anything like that as much as I can.

I started with Boots when I had their pneumonia jab (that was something I had with that awful illness I suffered) and they annually email me for flu, so I sign up and then get the jab mid to late September.

dizzydizzydizzy · 01/09/2023 06:01

Of course. I'm going to get one too.

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