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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to get flu jab privately?

33 replies

shambhala76 · 11/11/2019 17:11

DD is in Y2 and unfortunately the school has had to postpone the flu vaccination, which was meant to be in the next couple of weeks.

I am thinking of getting it done privately at Superdrug. I often toy with the idea of getting it done myself so I thought maybe we could go together, as she will be nervous of needles. She is not nervous of the squirty nose thing.

AIBU to not have much confidence that the vaccination will be rearranged any time soon (I've heard vague mentionings of December or January), and just get us both done at the same time as soon as the vax comes in at Superdrug - which is apparently going to be next week?

It's not something I've ever done for myself apart from when I am pregnant but DH, who is otherwise well most of the year, has an annoying habit of getting flu right before Christmas (this has happened twice in recent years). He won't get the vaccine but I would prefer DD to be protected, and I reckon if I get it too, she is more likely to.

OP posts:
LagunaBubbles · 11/11/2019 17:14

Can't she just get it free at the GPs. Waiting till January is pointless, flu season is on us now.

Si1ver · 11/11/2019 17:16

I was talking to the pharmacist today, when I had mine done about the nasal spray. He says that it should be available at the end of Nov.

I would wait until then and check with a pharmacy if it's available and make a decision from there. If they don't have a spray at the end of Nov I'm going to consider a jab for my boy. Apparently after 6 months it's fine to give, just a bit sore. Still better than flu though.

MarmsTheSausagedog · 11/11/2019 17:16

Is it not possible for her to have the spray at a gp?

Caxx · 11/11/2019 17:17

They have to be 12 or over to be done at pharmacy

WoollyFoolly · 11/11/2019 17:17

They won't do children with the jab at most chemists. And they don't generally have access to the nasal spray. My SIL has been having this very problem, her DD was missed in the school vaccination program and she's had a nightmare trying to rearrange it so has been trying to get it done privately with no luck.
I get mine done every year (at boots) and have had a couple of postponements so far, seems they are having trouble getting enough stock or something this year.

Caxx · 11/11/2019 17:19

I was also told GP wont do it as they haven't been given funding the schools have

GreySheep · 11/11/2019 17:19

Superdrug near me does injections 9 and above but think it depends on the practitioner.

ArfArfBarf · 11/11/2019 17:21

My kids had the flu injection this year as the nasal spray was completely sold out/not available in our country (Germany). This was despite me ordering it from the pharmacy in September!

From the Superdrug website it looks like kids CAN get the injection at Superdrug but no mention of the spray.

riddles26 · 11/11/2019 17:22

Pharmacies will not vaccinate children with the injection as they are not trained to vaccinate children. GPs generally won't do school age children but you could ask them otherwise see if any private clinics offer nasal spray.

madeyemoodysmum · 11/11/2019 17:24

I went to a travel clinic to get mine done. Ages 10&12

riddles26 · 11/11/2019 17:25

Sorry I should rephrase that to most pharmacies won't vaccinate children. The majority of pharmacists receive training for adults only

Si1ver · 11/11/2019 17:28

@riddles26 my pharmacist has some additional post grad training in paeds which is why he said he could. Not all do at all, I didn't mean to give that impression.

From what he said the nasal spray literally hasn't been created this year as they're having issues. Has anyone actually had a spray for their kids yet?

riddles26 · 11/11/2019 17:31

@Si1ver no worries - I gave the impression that none give it to children which I also didn't mean to. In reality a few do but majority don't. If you have one that has paeds experience, you are lucky :)

My eldest has had the nasal spray and so have most of her friends. They are all in the 2-3 age and have had it from GP though

halcyondays · 11/11/2019 18:01

GPs will give it if you’ve missed having it at school. Boots do the jab but from age 10 I think.

sootynsweep · 11/11/2019 19:22

My ds in year 6 had the nasal spray at school today

MakeLemonade · 11/11/2019 19:29

My DD had the nasal spray a week or so ago and there was another clinic the weekend before that so around here anyway, it is definitely available.

I had to get my eldest done at Boots and they will do 11 and over for the injection.

I know private GP surgeries who do it so that could be worth exploring - likely to cost more than the Boots/Superdrug options though.

5BlueHydrangea · 11/11/2019 19:31

In our area (and many others) GP's are not commissioned to give the flu spray, and therefore won't. If you still have your letter it will have contact details of your local immunisations team on it. You could call them and discuss it. It's possible they may allow you to go to a clinic (run by them) and have it sooner, or they will know when the new date is for it to be done at your school. The immunisations team are the beast place to seek advice from.

nobodyimportant · 11/11/2019 19:34

Our school had the flu vacs done last week so there obviously is some around.

AFistfulofDolores1 · 11/11/2019 19:40

My 12 year old DS had the quadrivalent injection at Boots a couple of weeks ago.

NameChangeForThis555 · 11/11/2019 22:26

I had the flu jab a week ago, was at the GP to for a repeat prescription and was offered to “have the flu jab now”. I ended up with a big bruise and a massive swollen painful injection site. It was my first flu jab, so am not sure it is normal, but am wary of asking for it for the DC. We are supposed to get the nasal spray in a couple of weeks 🤞though

Inebriati · 11/11/2019 22:28

YANBU OP, there's no benefit in waiting.
I didn't have any reaction to this years jab, I always get it as soon as its released.

Original poster
shambhala76 · 11/11/2019 22:44

Thanks for the replies - I know Superdrug do kids (I checked), but I didn't think to ask about the minimum age. Good idea to call the number on the letter, too - I'll do that tomorrow. Real shame they have had problems this year, although I'm glad to hear some people's kids have had the vaccination.

OP posts:
SurfingApple · 11/11/2019 22:47

The school where I work had nearly all 200 children vaccinated by the NHS immunisation team last week.

My DD is year 8 and had the nasal spray given by the nurse at GP surgery a couple of weeks ago.

We paid for the injection at Boots for me DS (18) and DH. It was booked for 2 Sundays ago but they postponed to last Sunday as they were short on stock on our initial appointment date.

movpov · 11/11/2019 22:49

Boots are doing it now - I had mine a month ago. I am not entitled to get it for free and am generally well but one year I had a couple of really rotten colds, one of which turned into a horrible cough it took weeks to get rid of, I thought of how shit it felt and that flu would be 10 times worse so I paid to have it done - £12.99. This is now the third year I've done it. Don't know what they do about children though, you would have to check.

Osirus · 11/11/2019 22:51

Sorry I should rephrase that to most pharmacies won't vaccinate children. The majority of pharmacists receive training for adults only

My 3 year old had the chicken pox jab(s) recently, at Boots.

She also had the flu nasal spray last week at GPs.

I had the jab at Boots last week.

My sister is struggling to book her toddler in (same GP) as they just don’t have enough stock.

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