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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have no idea about this flu jab immunisation programme?

117 replies

GeeTeeEff · 07/10/2013 21:58

My 2 youngest dc's came home from school on Friday with letters saying their school is part of a new programme to start immunising all primary school pupils against flu.

It has never crossed my mind to have them immunised, they are rarely ill, never had flu so I'm thinking of not signing the permission forms.

Is it something everyone is doing? (Vaccinating that is) My mil said she wouldn't have them immunised as she felt quite ill after it.

OP posts:
LadyKooKoo · 08/10/2013 22:01

Fabulous Idiot How many people actually die of flu? The average is 32000 per year.

Sirzy · 08/10/2013 22:02

for many people flu is not considered a huge danger

I am a healthy adult. I have had flu twice and the second time I just avoided being hospitalised, it was horrendous and took me about 6 weeks to fully recover from it.

A poster up thread showed how serious it really can be for someone who is otherwise perfectly healthy. I know someone else who ended up in intensive care with complications from flu.

Personally I don't see why, when being offered free protection, people wouldn't make that choice but each to their own but lets not try to make out that flu isn't dangerous!

Twattyzombiebollocks · 08/10/2013 22:04

I would let them have it. I've had it once when a student, I have never felt so ill in my life. I literally couldn't get out of bed, going to the toilet was a major event as it took me half an hour to get upstairs. I was a fit and healthy 18 year old at the time and it hit me like a tonne of bricks. It took me a couple of months to be fully well again and about 6 months before I was back to a similar level of fitness.

yonisareforever · 08/10/2013 22:05

now

Lots of travel clinics do them , google travel clinics in your area. If your near London lots of places do them there. They are very common where I am.

TheFabulousIdiot · 08/10/2013 22:05

Are adults all getting a free vaccination?

All adults?

And teenagers?

Because if not then will they all be going to their GP and asking to pay for one?

Are people here just getting them for their toddler's? What about your other older or younger kids?

JackNoneReacher · 08/10/2013 22:06

So how do we know it massively reduces the chance of getting the flu if its not possible to know how effective it is sirzy?

TheFabulousIdiot · 08/10/2013 22:06

Sirzy, after you had it the first time why on earth didn't you go and get a vaccination every year? Are you going to get one this year?

yonisareforever · 08/10/2013 22:08

Supermarkets that have pharmacies usually do them, and places like Boots, but they are quite pricey.

For children, try travel clinics they can do them there for usually about £15.

Its unlikely your local docs will do it even if you offer to pay because of time constraints but you could ask them>

JackNoneReacher · 08/10/2013 22:11

now

www.childrensimmunisation.com/flu-vaccination/

have clinics all over and offer the flu jab

Sirzy · 08/10/2013 22:15

First time I had it it was relatively mild, from the second time onwards I have paid for the jab though.

Jack - by looking at the rates of people getting the flu when they are vaccinated and not vaccinated. I am sure that isn't hard to figure surely?

johnworf · 08/10/2013 22:15

I was in ASDA today and they are charging £7 for a flu jab.

nowwearefour · 08/10/2013 22:17

Thanks jack

JackNoneReacher · 08/10/2013 22:19

I wouldn't have thought it was hard to figure sirzy.

Which is why I'm still puzzled that the info site doesn't tell us how effective the vaccine is against flu.

Sirzy · 08/10/2013 22:21

Because it only immunises against the strains expected to be the biggest problem that year (and the fact it changes year on year will change its effectiveness anyway) therefore unless everyone who gets flu is tested to see what strain they have they can't know whether it was a strain they have been immunised against or not.

JackNoneReacher · 08/10/2013 22:26

So presumably there must be a 'sample' of people being tested to see what strain they have. Otherwise we would have no idea how effective it was.

TheFabulousIdiot · 08/10/2013 22:43

So the herd immunity thing isn't really effective when it comes to flu then?

puntasticusername · 08/10/2013 23:03

This thread is incredible. I'm going to go to bed before my anti-anti-vaxxer rage entirely overtakes me...

Madeyemoodysmum · 08/10/2013 23:27

I had a flu jab today, I have asthma.
Have not heard about the schools thing in this area but mine are at primary so maybe not eligible.

bumbleymummy · 09/10/2013 07:36

It is possible to have mild flu. It is a virus and some people will have it less severely than others. That does not mean that you haven't had 'real' flu.

I don't really understand why people would get all worked up about getting this vaccine when they've never been worried about their children catching flu before. Of course, if your child is more likely to suffer complications then the option is there. Although, iirc, the imbalance one isn't recommended for asthmatic children.

As far as herd immunity is concerned, it's a bit of a non- argument in favour of it considering that such a small percentage of the population will be vaccinated. The elderly are already offered a flu jab - which many turn down and they are more likely to come into contact with adults who could be carrying the virus rather than small children.

Also worth remembering that older people are more likely to have their own immunity to lots of different strains of flu that get have come into contact with throughout their lifetime. Although, if they do contract it they are more likely to differ complications (hence then being classified as 'at-risk' and offered their own flu jab.

So IMO, if you want to try this new flu vaccine for you/your children then go ahead but don't try to scare/guilt others into having it.

bumbleymummy · 09/10/2013 07:37

Imbalance = inhalable

OneLittleToddleTerror · 09/10/2013 09:21

It's not a new vaccine. It is only new on the NHS.

bumbleymummy · 09/10/2013 09:37

Ok... "So IMO, if you want to try this new-to-the-NHS flu vaccine for you/your children then go ahead but don't try to scare/guilt others into having it."

Happy? :)

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 09/10/2013 09:54

Just booked me and my eldest (3) in to have in next week, they said to take the youngest and have a chat while I'm there and they'll probably do him too (18m).

I'm not too bothered about them getting it, they're kids, kids are ill a lot. However, purely selfishly I am worried that i will catch it as my immune system is suppressed.

Even if everyone is vaccinated, the vaccine is not 100% effective at preventing the spread of the strains included in it, so the more people who do have any immunity, the less likely that those who could develop complications (even if they are already immunised themselves) will be exposed to it.

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 09/10/2013 09:55

Getting it = the flu, not the jab

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 09/10/2013 10:31

Ah bugger, do any of the posters who know a bit about the nasal vaccine know anything about this...

"There’s a small risk that the viruses in the nasal spray may be harmful to other people in the family who have weakened immune systems. Speak to your GP before your child has the flu vaccine if this applies to you."
(From the page about it on nhs.co.uk)