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

[Silverservice]

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?

I have mine paid for by work. I get it every single year because I have had flu once, as a child, and it was appalling (2 weeks bedridden, complications with an underlying lung condition that doesn’t normally require any management, and eventually hospital for IV fluids). DH had flu earlier this year. He is healthy, in his mid 30s and has no underlying issues and was horribly ill in bed for two weeks,

What is there to feel uncomfortable about? Lots of employers offer vaccination vouchers for staff as it makes good financial sense. Real, proper flu is serious stuff and you could be off work for a fortnight.

I'm not in an "at risk" group either but I'm self-employed and £11.50 to reduce my risk of not being able to work for 2 weeks or more is money well spent.

Unless there is a shortage of vaccines for vulnerable groups then I would encourage anyone to be vaccinated. The less people who have it the less spread.

Pressed send too soon! DH is having the jab this year (we’re paying) and I have had mine as usual plus our toddler has been vaccinated too,

I have the flu jag as I have asthma, I’m also a nurse so get it at work rather than having to make an appt at the practice nurse.

I’ve had flu once, before I got the jags and it’s absolutely miserable. I was in school at the time and off for 2/3 weeks, I remember my dad lifting me up and down the stairs to bed/couch and my wee sister was helping me walk to the toilet and back. Never ever felt so ill, I get the jag every year now.

I had flu once, many many years ago. I remember what it was like. As I haven't had it since, I figure that my immune system is fairly strong and that as I don't have any risk factors I'm better off not having the jab and therefore avoiding any of the mild to severe side effects.

We've just had the flu jab offered at my workplace and with a few exceptions everyone took up the offer. I am in an at risk group (kidney transplant and lower immune system) and was given a kidney by a friend who also works with me. Everyone realises this and I was touched to hear this was in a lot of people's thinking when deciding to have the flu jab.

You may have read of heard immunity and this is a great example. Despite me having the vaccine, I'm still high risk so those around me (family) are encouraged to have it each year. Very touched that my colleagues also took the trouble to protect me too.

Quite the opposite of what you're saying about "over-vaccinating" stopping the vaccine being effective, the vaccine minimises your chances of being a silent carrier of flu as a healthy person and infecting someone vulnerable. I get my flu jab every year as someone who works in a hospital, not to protect myself (although I'd hate to get flu), but to protect patients who would be more likely to suffer complications if they got infected.

I would do almost anything to not have flu again. I had it once as a child, once as a teenager and once as an adult. That ranks as one of the worst experiences of my life. Awful.

I’ve had a “mild dose” of flu once (GP’s term), took me 3 weeks to recover fully. DH has had 2 severe doses, in one case he was sweating out well over 4 litres of water per day for 3 days!

And we both have pretty strong immune systems.

However, a strong immune system won’t stop an infection, it might mitigate the effects but it won’t stop you infecting others during the early stages before the symptoms emerge.

We’re happy to pay for for our jabs.

My work offers it for free too. I take it. Prefer not being ill.

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.

It's available in many high street pharmacies, including Boots (£12.99), Superdrug (£9.99), Tesco (£9), Sainsburys (£8.50) and Asda (£7). Some people are reporting more side effects than usual this year but I had none at all, not even a sore spot.

It takes a couple of weeks to build up full immunity after the vaccination and there's some evidence that immunity declines after two - three months - but don't wait to get it, thinking you'll be at peak immunity during peak flu in January - February, because stocks may run out.

It only protects against the strains of flu that are in the vaccine, which were decided in Spring, so if there's a surprise new entrant it won't protect against it. But any immunity is worth having, IMO.

I had the vaccine last year as I was pregnant do an at risk group. This year I haven’t and I’m just coming out the other side of flu. Definitely flu and definitely awful. It’s now day 10 and I cleaned the house yesterday and felt I’d run a marathon. So still have lack of energy. I’ve had to have a nap today luckily my husband can take care of our baby. I wish I’d had the vaccine and I will from now on. They don’t provide any vaccine did babies under 12 months do they?