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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get a flu jab?

81 replies

QuestionableMouse · 03/10/2019 19:38

I'm mid 30s and relatively healthy. Struggle with anemia but that's it.

A couple years ago I had a really bad dose of the flu that almost put me in hospital. It took me almost a year to recover fully (and to be honest, I've never felt quite as good as I did before)

Thinking about getting a flu jab this year because I'm really scared of getting the flu again.

Aibu?

OP posts:
GymNovice · 03/10/2019 19:40

Of course not, just get it. I will get it because there is no way I could look after the DC if I had the flu.

CAG12 · 03/10/2019 19:59

Of course not. I dont quite understand why you think this would be?

LagunaBubbles · 03/10/2019 20:03

Why are you doubting yourself? Confused

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 03/10/2019 20:17

Sorry, never had one before and when I spoke the the pharmacist today she seemed to think i was being a bit dramatic! I'm also a bit worried about any side effects.

OP posts:
wheresmymojo · 03/10/2019 20:25

Me & DJ are going to get one just because we're both self-employed and don't get paid to be off sick and also because it's horrid.

I don't give a shit if the person at Boots has an opinion on it - I'm having it as a paying customer.

FluffyRabbitGal · 03/10/2019 20:25

I get the flu jab free at work, but in the couple of years I’ve not been able to able to get into occupation health clinics, I’ve paid for it. I had the flu when I was 19, I was bed bound for 2 weeks (it was so bad I couldn’t even walk to the loo on my own) and felt generally crap for months after. My local Boots, Superdrug, Tesco (with pharmacy) & Asda (again with pharmacy) offer the service for £10-£15, which I’d more than happily pay to avoid feeling that poorly again.

wheresmymojo · 03/10/2019 20:25

DH not DJ!

SauvignonBlanche · 03/10/2019 20:27

YANBU at all, I’ve had mine already.

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 03/10/2019 20:41

Thanks!

Yeah, the last time I had it was spent about two weeks in bed. The first few days were scary... My temp was sky high and I was vomiting. Had to get the GP out and ended up with something to take. But it put me in a cycle of vomiting because I wasn't eating and not eating because I was vomiting. Just awful.

OP posts:
duvetaddict · 03/10/2019 20:43

I get one every year, you're not just protecting yourself but people around you that you could pass it onto if you got it!

MontStMichel · 03/10/2019 20:57

I get it for free, but even if I didn’t I’d still pay for it! I can’t bear the feeling of being too tired to stand up for 6 weeks after it - £10 is well worth it to avoid that!

Sparklingbrook · 03/10/2019 20:59

I have it at Boots every year. It's £12.99 and I feel happier knowing I won't get ill.

bellinisurge · 03/10/2019 20:59

I have regular B12 jabs - I have MS . Compared to that jab it was , to channel Monty Python, a mere scratch.
No big deal. Just do it.

DramaAlpaca · 03/10/2019 20:59

Just get it. I got mine last weekend. My arm was slightly sore for a day or two but that's all. And the needle used is tiny, you honestly hardly feel it.

Northernsoullover · 03/10/2019 21:00

I get it because I'm a carer to my autistic son but before I knew I was eligible I paid for it. I have never had any side effects other than a slightly sore arm.

Battenburg1978 · 03/10/2019 21:05

I can get on through work and did so last year - I don’t think I’ve ever had a real flu and would rather not get one TBH! Last year I did get a headache for about a week after the jab, this side effect was noted on the info leaflet.

ginyogarepeat · 03/10/2019 21:07

YANBU but it does have a fairly low efficiency rate so don't rule out getting the flu anyway! I get it every year (asthmatic) and got my first ever proper flu last winter Sad

cheeseandcrackers · 03/10/2019 21:08

If you're embarrassed to get it for yourself (you shouldn't be) think of all the other people you will be helping by not passing it on to them, as you might do if you do catch the flu. You could actually be saving lives

Shosha1 · 03/10/2019 21:12

God yes. I used to be a childminder and I had one every year.
I didn't get it till end if October tho. They day before I was getting it I caught swine flu from one if the children . I ended up being taken to hospital with the music and disco lights on and spending 3 days in ICU. DH thought I wasn't going to make it through the first night. Now I get it as soon as it's available

OddBoots · 03/10/2019 21:14

Of course you're not, the more people who have the jab the fewer people there are spreading it so we all benefit.

Kyvia · 03/10/2019 21:16

I also pay for it every year. I can’t afford to be off work and come into contact with a lot of people through work and commuting. DP has followed suit this year as well.

I do feel a little guilty/worried this year as there’ll probably be a vaccine shortage so we’ve essentially been able to buy the privilege of being vaccinated and other people will probably miss out.

So I think maybe we are being unreasonable but we’re not alone?

Aragog · 03/10/2019 21:19

I get one every year, free to me, due to arthritis and my medication.

I pay for one for 17y Dd and have done for the past couple of years at her request. She had flu in the winter of year 10 when she should have been revising for gcse mocks and it wiped her out for quite a long time. She was paranoid it would happen again in the run up to her real exams hence we pay.

Only side effects either of us have had is a sore arm for the day after.

Mind, I went to get mine today and they didn't have any in stock at the pharmacist.

ghostyslovesheets · 03/10/2019 21:20

@bellinisurge - oh yes the b12 is a stingy bastard!

I have Flu Jab every year because I get it free (CKD and also front line public sector) - it really isn't a biggy

MitziK · 03/10/2019 21:21

There's no difficulty in getting a free flu vaccination if you have a qualifying condition or are a carer - we've both had ours in the last three weeks. Don't avoid getting one out of misplaced guilt - at least you won't be the person who gives an unvaccinated person the flu that kills them.

GreytExpectations · 03/10/2019 22:11

I'm a bit confused on how it's taken you a year to recover from a flu and it's left you not as healthy has you used to be, years later. Sorry if that's insensitive, I know flu is horrible but that just seems like a very extreme reaction. Also, why have you not got the flu jab the last few years if that was your last flu experience?

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