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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU regarding flu jabs

30 replies

tjacksonpfc · 06/10/2011 22:06

Hi all probably not 100% an aibu thread but this page gets a lot of traffic so hopefully my question can be answered.

I've got asthma and have been in for my flu jab and pneumonia one today. My ds also has asthma and a heart murmour which becomes noticable when he is ill.

I asked the receptionist if he was going to get called forward for a flu jab as last year he was hospitalised due to flu.

The response was your son isn't in the criterior for one. Now can someone explain to me what the hell is the criterior if my sons illness isn't. Hes 6 by the way.

TIA

OP posts:

fourkids · 06/10/2011 22:08

I should speak to your GP

pollyblue · 06/10/2011 22:10

Was the receptionist aware of his asthma? Yep, see your GP, you can request he has the jab.

Original poster

tjacksonpfc · 06/10/2011 22:19

Yes I told the receptionist about his asthma and heart murmour and she said all eligable people have had their letters. Ive got an appointment with the asthma nurse on weds so was thinking of seeing her about it.

OP posts:

BoulevardOfBrokenSleep · 06/10/2011 22:26

I don't know about the heart murmur, but asthmatics have to be on steroids (brown/orange inhaler) to qualify usually. You could try arguing the toss if your GP is nice?

I know it's a pain when you're not quite ill enough to qualify for the NHS flu jab, but too ill/young for a private jab. Been there, done that.

Sirzy · 06/10/2011 22:29

I would talk to the gp and ask them to double check, or give a proper explanation why not
Ds is only 22 months and having one tomorrow due to his asthma.

emilyofnewmoon · 06/10/2011 22:52

Our surgery only calls children over 16yrs but gps and nurses can make decision to vaccinate children younger on an individual basis. Speak to his gp or asthma nurse.

Sevenfold · 06/10/2011 22:54

that is plain daft
I could have one as I am a carer,

Cheeseandharps · 06/10/2011 22:55

Speak to the GP or practice nurse. I often don't receive the letter, but I'm eligible and get the jab without a problem.

Original poster

tjacksonpfc · 07/10/2011 07:38

I think ill speak to our asthma nurse when I see her next wednesday and see if she can arrange for it for him.

It is daft isn't it sevenfold when like you said you can recieve one as a carer. I would have thought having a respiratory and heart condition doesn't qualify you for one. I was considering finding out if I can pay for him to have it rather than risk him going into hospital again this year.

OP posts:

slavetofilofax · 07/10/2011 07:44

Definately speak to the nurse and the GP before you start worrying, GP receptionists can be very jobsworthy about things like this.

She should have advised you to speak to to the nurse, instead of just saying a blanket no.

Misspixietrix · 07/10/2011 08:03

agree with slavetofiloflax most GP's receptionists have think they have exceptional degrees in medicine and can diagnose you over the phone to apparently follow very strict rules so only emergencies are validly given. You have to adopt a bulldog approach with them, book an app with your GP, when they asks why say you'd rather discuss it with him/her then tell them that the receptionists wouldn't book you an appointment and you have genuine concerns due to last year's illness. Good luck hun x

GalaxyWeaver · 07/10/2011 08:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JoandMax · 07/10/2011 08:09

I would just speak to the nurse or GP and I'm sure they will be ok with it.

DS2 has a very rare condition which can cause serious respiratory problems but as it's not on the criteria list it has to be approved by the GP/Paed first before I can make an appointment. It's annoying but just one of those things!

Scholes34 · 07/10/2011 08:50

My neighbour was told by the receptionist that she had the "wrong type of asthma" for a flu jab. It was the local pharmacist who insisted she should go and actually see the asthma nurse for her to confirm that she should have a flu jab. She got the jab in the end. It's probably necessary for you to have someone over-rule the receptionist.

bruffin · 07/10/2011 09:01

Go back to your GP
My DS 16 only has had the occassional viral induced asthma and hasn't had it for years, but had pneumonia when he was 13 and also a condition called GEFS+ which means he has febrile convulsions far more frequently and long past the normal age. The last one he had was when he had pneumonia, but he often has a fc triggered by flu. I spoke to his GEFS+ consultant and she said speak to gp as he although he doesn't fit the normal criteria he would almost definitely have the flu jab if we wanted him to have it.

stuffthenonsense · 07/10/2011 09:02

my gp has also refused to vaccinate my (not at risk) children and i have spent days phoning round to get it for them, the PCT suggested calling other surgeries, i have managed to find a nearby surgery that will vaccinate each child at a cost of £10 (because they are not on the eligable list) . my thoughts are that my childrens lives are not being played with and put at risk for the sake of a tenner, they are having the jabs next week. phone around all your local gps, you may well find one that will.

borderslass · 07/10/2011 09:06

I could have one as carer to DS [ASD] he has asthma but wont have it as he is absolutely terrified of needles.

ShriekingLisa · 07/10/2011 09:13

Steroids inhalers can be In purple also.

Speak to gp.

wonkylegs · 07/10/2011 09:46

Agree with all those who say Speak to GP.... I never seem to be on the list and never get a letter but as I'm on immunosuppressants it's one of the criteria for being prescribed the immunosuppressants in the 1st place!! Duh joined up thinking.... It's rarely a problem when questioned but 1 receptionist is a royal PITA about stuff like this with me but funnily enough never questions my DH when he asks her stuff ( I think it's something to do with the Dr title, although he is a hospital specialist who often admits he knows little outside his field and says I definitely know more about the medical side of my R. Arthritis than him)

Sirzy · 07/10/2011 09:57

Stuffthenonesense. Not being at risk is exactly why they can't have it at the gp! I have just got back from ds having his, in the 15 mins I was there 5 people went in for the jabs and she said it has been at that rate all week. People were phoning and being told it would be 2 or 3 weeks before they could be fitted in. Imagine how much worse that would be if those not at risk where allowed to be vaccinated free of charge to.

The practise has to prioritise those who having flu poses the biggest risk.

AKMD · 07/10/2011 10:00

Just ask your GP for him to have it.

I had a GP appointment for something else entirely last week but she had the syringes on her desk ready to go and said 'While, you're here, you may as well have this...'

Original poster

tjacksonpfc · 07/10/2011 11:04

Thanks all I'll speak to the asthma nurse when i go wednesday if I take him in with me hopefully the nurse will do it there and then.

Stuffthenonesese can I be nosey and ask why you are so keen for your dcs to have it if they aren't on the eligble criterior. Do they have some other illness which means getting flu would be dangerous for them.

OP posts:

KeepInMind · 07/10/2011 11:14

Speak to the GP he is medically trained the receptionist is not

stuffthenonsense · 07/10/2011 17:44

Ok, well apart from the fact that last year, locally there were 3 deaths in children with no underlying conditions-which is pretty scary, i have had flu 3 times myself and each time i have been so ill as to 'lose' 2 weeks with a further 2 weeks recovery time. 4 weeks from school during GCSE and Alevel is a huge loss that would be very difficult to catch up on, they also volunteer every weekend at the nearby Ronald Mcdonald house and it would be just awful if they were to spread flu to parents who are staying with their hospitalised children.
And i see it as socially responsible-i had heard that the NHS had bought 3 million more vaccines than there were at risk people so i do not believe i am taking vulnerable peoples vaccines-if the pharmacies were vaccinating under 18s i would go there but they wont. I feel that otherwise healthy children are the only members of our society that are not able to be vaccinated by choice-after all healthy adults can buy it at a pharmacy....and sick children DO cost the economy in lost work days-someone needs to look after them. Phew! Didnt know i had so much to say. Sorry if it comes across as ranty its not meant to.

Original poster

tjacksonpfc · 07/10/2011 19:43

Thanks for that response stuffthenonsense it didn't come across as ranty at all. If the nhs has bought 3 million more vacines than are needed then why are people that are ill and in need but don't fit the criterior that someone has made up have sucha fight getting hold of one.

If my ds doesn't have one and ends up hospitalised then can i sue the pct for not feeling my son was needy enough for it

OP posts:

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