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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want the flu jab

72 replies

ellielong · 10/10/2018 20:26

My reasons are it made my dad really poorly and also I have never had flu.

I’m just worried about getting ill from it.

OP posts:

Severide08 · 10/10/2018 23:14

I am in high risk group because of asthma but I won't have it .Only had it once and that was enough made me very ill and I said never again .

crazycatgal · 10/10/2018 23:19

The flu jab will not give you the flu.

I'm scared of needles but I've been and had it today because I don't want the flu myself and I don't want to infect any of the children in my class.

Nonomore2 · 10/10/2018 23:22

For all to consider (esp. @olsbirdy)

www.gov.uk/government/news/flu-vaccine-effectiveness-in-2017-to-2018-season

“Public Health England (PHE) has today (Wednesday, 18 July 2018) published data on the effectiveness of the flu vaccine in the 2017 to 2018 season. The data show that overall, flu vaccine was 15% effective in all age groups. However, effectiveness varied considerably. By age-group, the vaccine was overall:

26.9% effective in children aged 2 to 17 years (who received the nasal spray)

12.2% in at risk groups aged 10 to 64 years

10.1% in those aged 65 and over

LurpakIsTheOnlyButter · 10/10/2018 23:34

Apologies for my earlier error, either 3 types of fly in usual under 65 vaccine or 4 in the over 65s.

Children have the nasal spray which is a live vaccine, mine have this.

I think you need to consider 1. How serious flu can be and 2. People who are immunosupressed who you could actually kill by now having the vaccine.

Negative effects- you don't like needles, you might feel a bit crap, sore arm. Very unlikely allergic reaction.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours (for now, see sugar tax, cigarette regs, etc)

Make it an informed choice.

recklessruby · 10/10/2018 23:39

I had proper flu last year and ds looked after me. All I remember is feeling like hell burning up shivering and vomiting with terrible headaches. I couldn't eat and was ill for a bit.
However I m a healthy adult and I won't have the flu jab. I will take my chances after watching dd have a fit and turn blue after a vaccination.

LellyMcKelly · 10/10/2018 23:46

I had proper flu last year and didn’t feel properly well again for three months. My DP was hospitalised twice with breathing difficulties (and he’s a Scottish ‘hard man’. When he agreed to go to hospital without even a minor protest I knew he felt it was serious. He once suffered an abscessed tooth for 3 months with barely a murmur). We are getting flu jabs this weekend.

NewYoiker · 10/10/2018 23:48

I've been told I can't start my new job without the flu jab

agnurse · 11/10/2018 01:12

It can cause a mild reaction in some people but doesn't usually cause real flu. There are three possibilities here:

If your dad only got it once it could be that the severe reaction was due to it being the first time he got it. Reactions tend to be more severe with the first dose. In subsequent years it tends to be better.

Your dad was already incubating the flu when he got the shot and the symptoms just happened to show up afterward.

The flu shot takes 2 weeks to be effective. It's possible your dad got the flu during those 2 weeks.

Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 11/10/2018 01:31

I get my flu jab every year because I have asthma and I’m not willing to chance finding out what the flu might do to me but luckily I have never had the flu.

NarcolepticOuchMouse · 11/10/2018 01:31

I'm utterly terrified of having the flu jab. The last one I had was the 2009 swine flu vaccine, you know the one that gave kids narcolepsy...I'm not an antivaxer but I can't bring myself to get the flu vaccine again.

notangelinajolie · 11/10/2018 01:31

I had the flu once. It was nearly 20 years ago when I was much younger and a lot healthier. I thought I was going to die, I was so frightened that I called DH at work to come home and look after me and DD2 aged 2 who was also v poorly. I could not breathe and the pressure in my ears and eyes had me believing my head was about to explode. I was off work for nearly a month and to this day I still have ringing in my ears and permanent inner ear damage. DH and DD1 age 4 didn't even catch a cold.

I don't give a shit about the side affects of the vaccine - I never EVER want to have the flu again. No flu vaccine side affects will ever be as bad as actually having flu.

Stupomax · 11/10/2018 01:41

“Public Health England (PHE) has today (Wednesday, 18 July 2018) published data on the effectiveness of the flu vaccine in the 2017 to 2018 season.

Rather than cherry-picking one year, how about a range of years so we can see what's typical rather than atypical?

Figure. Effectiveness of Seasonal Flu Vaccines from the 2004-2018 Flu Seasons

Stupomax · 11/10/2018 01:42

"According to the CDC, the flu vaccine reduces the odds of getting the flu by about 60%. But that number varies from year to year and among different groups of people."

www.webmd.com/vaccines/how-effective-is-flu-vaccine#1

trulybadlydeeply · 11/10/2018 01:54

Who is suggesting that you have it? Is it because of particular health conditions that a hcp is recommending it, or are you in a profession where it is routinely given? Either way, discuss your concerns with that person, but if you are comfortable that you have made an informed decision, no one can insist that you have it.

notangelinajolie · 11/10/2018 02:13

For everyone saying don't have the jab - have you actually ever had flu?

Kescilly · 11/10/2018 03:33

I don't understand the resistance to getting it, personally. But I'm very grateful to all those who do get it. You're not just protecting yourself, you're protecting those who are more vulnerable.

Redglitter · 11/10/2018 03:34

I got mine last week. My arm was a bit warm for about 24 hours but other than that I've had no problems at all.

HenSolo · 11/10/2018 03:54

My ds2 contracted flu last winter at the age of 11 months. He was hospitalised for weeks and we were lucky not to lose him. He is still on medication. Never thought any of us would get the flu either but life doesn’t work like that. It’s your choice but don’t forget those who can die from it.

SpoonBlender · 11/10/2018 04:12

I got mine. I'm a martyr to colds and I would probably literally die if I ever contracted a real flu.

The jab CANNOT give you flu, it's impossible. Not just unlikely, impossible.

On top of which, a cold or flu takes 3-10 days to incubate. If your dad felt poorly after his jab, he'd already been infected for days before it and it just happened to come to a head after.

ilovesooty · 11/10/2018 05:39

I had proper flu about 12 years ago. I live alone and in my few lucid moments thought I was going to die and was terrified. I've had the vaccination every year ever since - no effects other than a mildly sore arm.

Please yourself but I can't imagine why most people would refuse it.

WhateverHappenedToTheHeatwave · 11/10/2018 08:07

Your dad probably already had it coming as i did when i first got the vaccine. I was really ill too. Never had an issue since.

So don't get it. Why make an aibu post? Do you want to be convinced to or validated not too? Are people moaning that you should. It's not a mandatory vaccine so it always baffles me to see OPs here and social media statuses proclaiming people will or won't have.

Screaminginsidemeagain · 11/10/2018 08:15

I had a friend die last xheistmas from flu. A woman in her 40’s otherwise fit and healthy.

If you are offered it then you must be in an at risk category. Talk to the nurse about it before making a decision.

I can’t have it- it effects my muscles all over my body, it’s like I’ve been in a car crash, I can’t turn my head for weeks.

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