Upset that parents won't get a flu jab

[Ieatcake]

They are both entitled to it but are spouting anti Vax stuff and won't get it. Aibu to push them to get it? They are saying the Australian flu could kill tens of thousands

The flu jab is no guarantee against getting flu. It’s a bit of a useless vaccine really.

Fatso Truly.

I heard more about it last month while I was in the UK than I heard all winter in Australia. A handful of people died from it, but to suggest that "tens of thousands" of people will drop dead from it is pure dramatisation.

I think they should have it and don't believe the typical anti vax arguments but it's their decision to refuse.

If they are genuinely worried about side effects do you think they should push their own fears aside and do what you want because it would make you feel better?

I understand that you love them but that's a selfish motive

Their choice and unfortunately not much you can do about it. It's true that the flu jab doesn't offer as much protection against this particular strain, which is the case every year (it doesn't cover all strains) and this just happens to be an especially virulent one. But normal flu can still kill older people (and young ones too for that matter) and kills thousands and thousands each year. I get the flu jab every year myself and have never had the flu, touch wood. But my mum and stepdad don't get it. They figure if it's their time, it's their time. Not what I would do, but it's their choice. The only time it would be a concern would be in terms of contact with young children who are already poorly and can't yet be vaccinated.

YANBU. My DH has just had (still recovering) what seems to be the Aussie flu. I've never seen him so I'll. I'm 38 weeks pregnant with a 4, 3 and 2 yr old. The two eldest and I got the jab and I had one day where I was feeling desperately unwell and fluey (same timing DH started his flu) and then it lifted so I think it was the vaccine. I guess we were lucky that whatever one he got was covered. I've been so worried about my littlest one catching it though so have kept them well apart this 20 days.

A friend just told me of a guy in her hometown who died yesterday of the flu. Man in his 40's, footballer, no known conditions.

This year's jab does cover "Aussie" flu. But is less effective in the elderly potentially. Also obviously nothing is 100%.*

This year's flu jab is designed to protect against H3N2 as well as some other strains*
www.bbc.com/news/health-42602394

10 days, not 20!

If they have made an informed risk assessment and decided the risk of flu and its effects is less than the risk from the jab, fine.

I doubt it but I don't know.

YANBU but just roll your eyes, smile and nod and if they get flu don’t answer the phone

Can’t say enough to people that post on flu threads it doesn’t work against Aussie flu/I had flu after I had the jab/it doesn’t work against all flu so it’s pointless, to read, REALLY read, about the flu vaccine from reliable sources.

And stop reading the tabloids, they’ll rot your brain.

There is no doubt that there is a very nasty flu going round at the moment. I know of two healthy adults who were off work for three weeks each. For that reason I recently went and paid for the jab. It isn’t effective in everyone and takes a few weeks to become fully effective but I’d rather avoid becoming ill if I can.

There is an article in the Times today discussing this issue. Apparently the vaccine is most effective in children and by vaccinating a lot of children you can create a degree of herd immunity. The elderly are not taking up immunity at all well.

And does an illness need to be fatal in order to wish to avoid it? No, not for me. Aussie flu is a serious illness and anyone sensible would want to avoid catching it. And for the record, I haven’t had an side effects from the jab whatsoever but we are all different.

Remember though that you are far more likely to hear of people who had an adverse reaction to the vaccine than those who don’t.

The flu jab is no guarantee against getting flu. It’s a bit of a useless vaccine really.

Again, I just don't get this logic. If your choice is between, say, 0% protection and 60% protection why wouldn't you pick the 60%? And the fact it isn't 100% effective makes it imperfect, not 'useless'.

Useless vaccine?
Doesn’t cover the Aussie flu?
30-40% effective?

Where is everyone spouting this shit from?

The BBC article posted above is a start.

YANBU OP.

Remember though that you are far more likely to hear of people who had an adverse reaction to the vaccine than those who don’t.

People are also very likely to decide that any coincidental illness within a week of the jab, which normally they'd just think was one of those things, must be the direct result of the jab. I've seen people attribute things to it that aren't known side effects at all, and I also think a certain proportion of it (not all) is psychosomatic.

I am diabetic, and was advised to have the jab by the diabetic nurse. I've also not had the awful virus that my DH and 2 DDs have had, that has knocked them all off their feet literally and left 2 of them needing antibiotics for secondary infections. And if anyone gets a cold in our house, it's normally me. So I think it's made a huge difference to my immune system.

I get the flu jab routinely because I have actually had a strain of flu that had teeth and it was AWFUL! I've had flu maybe 10 times in my life, but this one time was different to all of the others. I was 25 and I literally couldn't move for the pain. I think it would have finished an older person or someone with serious comorbidities off, tbh. YANBU.

They key group that should get the vaccine is small children - they’re believed to be the worst spreaders of the virus due to their poor hygiene and tendancy to cough/sneeze/rub snotty hands on everything.

“Plague Monkeys” as we refer to DD and DS in our house

If your choice is between, say, 0% protection and 60% protection why wouldn't you pick the 60%?

What's the risk for the 60% ?

What's the risk for the 60% ?

Almost nothing. Most people will get very mild or no side effects, a minority will feel a bit under the weather for a couple of days. A tiny proportion will have a serious reaction such as anaphylactic shock, but that's a risk any time you take a drug you haven't taken before, it's not specific to the flu vaccination.

I think the risks of having it are really low, right? You feel a bit coldy for a couple of days and have a sore arm. A tiny proportion of people have a severe allergic reaction.

It depends on the cheaper tri jab or the quad one which I think was the spray and it also lessons symptoms.
With very elderly in the family and very young I think people of your parents age should have it or not see people until then threat is over.

My in laws who are germ phobic but happily feed dc off their own cutlery.... won't get it inspite of a 90 year old in the family and gc with breathing issues. When I asked if they were going to get it... It was all very self focused... Not one thought to the other people in the family. I do it as does dh... And I would do it for my grandchildren too

whiskeyowl I had it a few years ago in the spring and remember saying to DH that I was now wholly convinced that had I been an isolated elderly person or a very very young person I would’ve died. As it was, I was fit and young but I still needed 24 hour care for the first week.

I do wonder whether years of society minimising how serious any kind of flu can be, has uneducated people about what it is and why we need a vaccine and why the majority of the population are up in arms about the ‘deadly Aussie flu’. Flu is dangerous every year, whatever strain you happen to catch. It just so happens it’s been a pretty bad year this year in Australia and now here.

70% of people infected with a flu virus show no symptoms. That’s why it spreads so virulently. This year’s vaccine is the right one for the most prevalent strains currently doing the rounds. Yes, it’s not massively effective and is sometimes less effective in older people but it’s the only protection we have. Younger people can help protect older ones by having the jab and limiting the pool of infection that way, and older people should have it to give themselves the best chance of avoiding it.

The adult jab is not a live vaccine - it cannot, and does not give you flu. It can have some side effects in some people, as can any vaccine or other medication. It is important to know that the earlier in the flu season you have the jab, the better protected you will be. The vaccine takes two weeks to become effective so best to have it before flu rates peak. Ideally have it October / November.

Most of what is spouted on here about the flu jab is nonsense. Have it or don’t have it, but don’t come on scaremongering with your anecdata.

Selfish to want to protect other people.

As far as I'm concerned if they won't get done that's their absolute priority but... Just don't see the. In the mean time.

Little witch I heard it's best to have it later actual as peak is around January Feb...

Or have it twice

pinky - yes! People always say "Oh, loads of people call a bad cold the flu" and I'm sure that is an issue. But flu itself can vary so much in severity too. I had swine flu a few years back, and it was like a bad cold for me personally. I didn't feel well, but I was still able to function pretty well and worked (from home) through most of it. With the more severe strain I had a few years earlier, it was a completely different story - I was barely conscious at times, hallucinating with fever, unable to move and fighting for breath. You're right about the 24 hour care, it was unspeakably painful and terrible and I don't believe anyone who had been through it would refuse a jab!!