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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:
Kyvia · 04/10/2019 10:08

People should be made to feel guilty for not getting the vaccine if they are in good health and indeed it is better to leave the supplies for those who are not.

This is what I worry about. Am I being selfish for paying my £12 for my own peace of mind, when other people might need the vaccine more?

Cleverplayonwords · 04/10/2019 10:52

@Kyvia no, it's not selfish. People that need it can get it from their gp.
The more people that are immunised the better.

MitziK · 04/10/2019 16:14

@grumpyperson, I'm immunocompromised. It's a completely fucking necessary comment.

GoNorthatthefirstleft · 04/10/2019 16:20

I used to think that i didn't need the flu jab even though asthmatic then 2 years ago i got flu which left me floored for 2 weeks a cancelled surgery. I now get it every year as never want too feel that I'll again.

HoldMyLobster · 04/10/2019 16:30

How bizarre to be worrying that somehow by getting a flu jab at Boots you'll stop someone else who 'needs' the jab from getting one. The manufacturers make hundreds of millions of these vaccines every year. Many countries offer them to everyone over 6 months old. The more people have it, the safer those are who can't have it. Thousands of people die of flu every year.

ArthurtheCatsHumanSlave · 04/10/2019 16:34

I've never had flu, but I must admit I am thinking about getting the flu jab this year as there seems to be good evidence of a nasty strain coming our way.

YANBU at all. In fact you are being very reasonable in looking after your own health. More people should.

Kyvia · 04/10/2019 18:25

I have the impression from the news there are likely to be flu vaccine shortages this year.

SomeoneInTheLaaaaaounge · 04/10/2019 18:42

I always get the flu jab it’s so worth it!

Lougle · 04/10/2019 19:00

Lots of people think they had 'the flu'. They've had a heavy, nasty cold virus. Some people genuinely have had influenza and it was mild. However, influenza, whether 'flu A, 'flu B, H1N1 (Swine 'flu) or H5N1 (bird 'flu) can be life-threatening.

Every year we have people in intensive care who have caught flu and it has rendered them critically ill. It is so bad, and so infectious, that we now have machines in A&E that can give a rapid 'yes/no' to flu. If a patient has been exposed to another patient who turns out to have the flu, they are given Tamiflu, even if they don't yet have symptoms themselves.

I had flu in 2017. I was working on my unit, then over the course of my shift I was finding it harder and harder to cope with sheet changes for my incontinent patient. I thought I was being a snowflake. By the evening, I had to be driven home by a colleague (still not realising it was flu) and when I got home, my temperature was 38.5°c. I didn't get out of bed for almost 2 weeks, save toilet trips. I slept for most of it.

OP, YANBU. I am eligible to have the flu jab because I'm a carer and because I'm a nurse. Whether I have the jab at work or my GP surgery usually comes down to timing.

HoldMyLobster · 04/10/2019 19:16

I have the impression from the news there are likely to be flu vaccine shortages this year.

I can see stories saying that there are delays to the NHS supplies, but that pharmacies such as Superdrug and Boots are not expected to be affected by the delays.

Deathraystare · 04/10/2019 19:18

I had mine today. Dr insists on it as I have a number of health problems but I get mine done at work (perk of working for NHS!).

HenSolo · 04/10/2019 19:23

Yes! My son had swine flu at 11 months old and he was in hospital in hdu. More people that get it the better please!

Auramigraine · 04/10/2019 19:29

I pay for the flu jab every year, I actually tried to book mine today but they didn’t have any in so have to ring back next week. I have had flu once and spent the entire time wanting to die so I don’t care what the pharmacist thinks, if I can avoid catching it again I will!

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 04/10/2019 20:08

I've never had one before but saw a sign for them when I was walking past. Asked to speak to someone and she came out. I was ready to have it there and then but she asked me why I wanted it and told me to come back when I'd thought out it more.

OP posts:
Thistle23 · 04/10/2019 21:40

Not being unreasonable !!

My work are giving every member of staff that wants the flu jag a voucher regardless of them being healthy or at risk.

Lind57 · 04/10/2019 21:54

£7 in Asda, and well worth it. My son is a doctor and says it is already shaping up to be a bad year for flu. Even if you get flu, the vaccine reduces your chance of hospital admission.

MadisonAvenue · 09/10/2019 14:35

My surgery isn't making it easy for people to get the vaccine there.

Mine is booked for next Wednesday (for some odd reason they're holding the over 65s clinics on Saturdays and the at risk ones - when most under 65s are at work - on a weekday morning) but as of yet the vaccines haven't been delivered.

My adult sons are also in the at risk group, they can't make a weekday and I've spoken to the surgery today to see if they're planning on having any weekend clinics and they said possibly in late November but nothing's decided yet so I'll be advising my sons to go to a pharmacy instead.

bellinisurge · 09/10/2019 15:10

Got mine in Boots a couple of weeks ago. It was free because I am in the at risk category although under 65. They knew my go surgery and just passed on to them that I had had it. So did DH who is asthmatic and therefore also entitled to a free one despite also being under 65.
It didn't hurt . I had no reaction. I'm used to monthly b12 jabs so this was nothing.

ISawyouinTescoyesterday · 09/10/2019 15:15

I'm not sure when to have mine. I had radiotherapy recently and keep forgetting to ask if it will interfere.

Witchinaditch · 09/10/2019 15:31

Of course get it!!!!!

lilabet2 · 09/10/2019 16:02

Definitely go ahead!

It won't work for Norovirus or any stomach viruses though but some strains of flu (swine flu) can make through throw up though it's less usual.

Each year the flu vaccine only works for three or four strains of the virus so you can still catch the other strains but the 3/4 strains that it protects against are the most prevalent ones that year.

Also you might get flu-like symptoms for a couple of days after the vaccine but these are short-lived and the vaccine isn't live so you won't get actual flu from it.

lilabet2 · 09/10/2019 16:03

* Oops meant 'you' not 'through'

Crunchymum · 09/10/2019 16:06

I take medication to suppress my immune system which means I should get the flu and pneumonia jab from my GP!

My surgery aren't rolling out the flu jabs to under 65's yet.

ItsJustTheOneSwanActually · 09/10/2019 16:07

It's free for everyone over 6 months where I live and they really encourage you to have one. You can go to any pharmacy and just ask.

DH and I have one every year with no side affects.

Thehagonthehill · 09/10/2019 16:07

I had my free one at work today I'm getting DD done on Saturday at the local chemists.
It is easy to do,I've never had side effects so why not.