Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we shouldn’t all need the flu jab?

38 replies

Silverservice · 27/10/2018 15:27

My workplace are offering a free flu jab and everyone is being encouraged to take up the offer.

By and large the whole workforce wouldn’t be in the ‘at risk’ group (around 500 factory workers) so I’m really unsure about this. One of the managers half jokingly said ‘don’t any of you dare to ring in sick with the flu now’ so I guess this is the reason that it’s being offered - in a way to reduce workplace sickness over the winter.

So, should healthy, not at risk people be vaccinated? Most of my workmates will be having it just because it’s free but I feel uncomfortable about this. Opinions please?

OP posts:
BaldricksCoffee · 27/10/2018 15:37

A bloke I work with is still off sick after more than a fortnight with the flu - he's in his 40's, normally fit and healthy, and not in any of the risk categories.
A dose of flu can really knock you sideways, and if your employer is offering the jab for free, then it seems like a good idea to me - even if their ulterior motive is preventing staff taking too much time off sick.

Kpo58 · 27/10/2018 15:39

I had the jab as I cannot work or look after my young kids if I have the flu.

PaintBySticker · 27/10/2018 15:40

My employer used to offer to all staff but they don’t anymore (to save money I think). It’s a company where a majority of the workforce are customer facing. I think it’s win-win - reduced employee absence and not having horrible flu. I pay for it myself now - I had flu once years ago and that was more than enough flu for me.

Heratnumber7 · 27/10/2018 15:41

I had proper flu once. It's not just a bad cold.
I was off for 3 weeks and when I went back to the office I struggled with the Hill in the carpark and walking up stairs for a couple more weeks.

Gilead · 27/10/2018 15:43

You protect yourself, and others. Why wouldn't you have it?

MamaLovesMango · 27/10/2018 15:43

Do you work in contact with the general public OP? If you don’t, it is a bit daft but if you do, it’s sensible.

SpottingTheZebras · 27/10/2018 15:43

I guess this is the reason that it’s being offered - in a way to reduce workplace sickness over the winter.

Of course that is why it is being offered. It’s not out of the kindness of your employer’s heart!

The ‘at risk’ group are those who typically die from flu and that is why they get free vaccinations (obviously not all of them die, but the vast majority of deaths will be from those categories and young children are known to spread flu more than any other age bracket). Everybody else usually tends to survive but for those who catch it, flu is very unpleasant.

strongandlong · 27/10/2018 15:44

There isn't any significant risk to having it. It's not worth making it free for the whole population because it wouldn't save the NHS enough.

I don't think managers should apply pressure to have it done. In fact they shouldn't be told who has/hasn't had it.

steff13 · 27/10/2018 15:45

My employer offers it too. I'm in the US, though, pretty much anyone who wants it can get it for free at the local drugstore. I don't get it because I have a bad reaction to it, but I make my kids get it. The flu can be really bad.

MamaLovesMango · 27/10/2018 15:45

I don’t know why you feel uncomfortable though, it won’t kill a non-at risk person.

Lougle · 27/10/2018 15:46

There are no (known) adverse effects from the flu vaccine if you are in good health and it has the potential to protect you from a potentially fatal virus, so I can't see why you would object to it. In the NHS we are all encouraged to have the vaccine and it would be very frowned upon if we then contracted flu and had refused vaccination.

GemmeFatale · 27/10/2018 15:46

In this situation I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t have the vaccine

MadisonMontgomery · 27/10/2018 15:47

I always have my flu jab (offered at work) why wouldn’t you? It isn’t only people in at-risk categories who die of the flu.

JosellaPlayton · 27/10/2018 15:48

I had proper flu as a teen and ended up with 2 weeks off school, missing my mocks, and losing 2 stone in weight. I always get the vaccine now! And everywhere I’ve ever worked, in the U.K. and the US has always offered it for free, it’s really quite normal. Yes your employer might be trying to avoid staff absence but the advantage for you of reducing you chances of getting the flu is far greater!

BillywigSting · 27/10/2018 15:49

I've had the flu twice, both times as a young fit and healthy adult, and both times I was bed ridden for two weeks, one of which I was hospitalised, and both times it has taken literally months to feel completely back to normal.

I bloody wish my employer gave it to me for free. As it is I fork over a tenner quite happily, anything to reduce my chances of catching it again.

I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

TheCatWhisperer · 27/10/2018 15:50

Everyone is at risk though. I am a healthy adult, eat well, regular exercise etc. Hadn't even had a common cold for 5 years, until last Christmas when I caught flu and then developed pneumonia. I was hospitalised and on a drip as I had been bed ridden for 10 days and hadn't eaten. I've honestly never felt so close to death. I'm having my jab on Tuesday and am paying for the pneumonia vaccine also. I never want to be that ill again.

Original poster
Silverservice · 27/10/2018 15:51

Thanks all, I wasn’t sure of the issue ‘over vaccinating’ if that’s possible, reducing the effectiveness of it for people who do need it.
As you can tell, I don’t know enough about it. If it’s a good idea I’ll have it!

OP posts:
reallybadidea · 27/10/2018 15:55

Every year in a professional capacity I come across a number of young, previously healthy adults who are critically ill due to contracting flu. Some of them die. I have my flu jab and I pay for my children to have it too.

MaverickSnoopy · 27/10/2018 16:00

I always have my flu jab and usually pay for it. An old employer used to offer this to reduce workplace sickness too. The year I missed it and assumed I'd be fine was the year I got it. I was off for 3 weeks with it incredibly unwell. I will never forget the walk to the doctors for my sick note when I very nearly collapsed. Horrific illness.

TooManyPaws · 27/10/2018 16:03

I get the jag (Scots) as I have asthma. I could also get it through my work for free.

I have once had flu as opposed to a shitty cold that is often called 'flu'. I was in bed for weeks and needed recuperation afterwards before going back to school. In fact, the school had to close because so many children were ill in bed. It's a completely vile illness and nothing like a bad cold.

I've also had a pneumonia jag as, in addition to the asthma, my brother and cousin both died of pneumonia (my cousin after flu), my grandfather died from bronchitis, and my father had bronchitis and pneumonia several times.

Don't risk it. Even healthy young people can die from flu. Someone I know ended up in intensive care with it.

daisypond · 27/10/2018 16:05

I've never heard of flu vaccine being offered to anyone except the elderly. My parents get it - they're over 80. I had no idea you could ask for it. I've never had flu.

Spikeyball · 27/10/2018 16:07

I got it free because I have a disabled child. Dh paid for one because him being ill would also impact on the care our child receives.

Scoobygang7 · 27/10/2018 16:26

You can't over vaccinate the flu. It's a different strain every year and the vaccine is made to that particular strain. Which is why it's a yearly vaccination rather than periodically like the mmr and the like.

pointythings · 27/10/2018 16:30

Have the jab. I have had flu 3 times. It is a major illness. Read up on the 1918 pandemic - that could easily happen again. Back then people would have bitten your arm off for a vaccine.

Coldilox · 27/10/2018 16:31

I used to get the flu vaccine through work as we come into contact with so many of the public (police). Then austerity hit and they no longer offer it. I pay for it now but would jump at it if offered by any employer. I’ve had flu once and will do anything I can to reduce my chances of getting it again.

Swipe left for the next trending thread