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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder if flu jab side effects are particularly bad this year?

109 replies

bringincrazyback · 02/12/2019 20:21

Had mine a couple of days ago, feeling pretty awful today. I'm pretty sure it's just side effects so hopefully won't last too long, but I'm just wondering if it's been kicking people's butts particularly hard this year? (The flu jab, I mean, not the flu itself.)

OP posts:
rhubarbcrumbles · 02/12/2019 22:07

No side effects here, the DCs all had the injection as they were given a choice of that or the nasal spray and they were fine. They said they could tell they had had an injection when they lay on their arm at night but that it didn't hurt at all.

rhubarbcrumbles · 02/12/2019 22:08

@novasglowx our GP surgery have stopped sending out the letters due to the cost so maybe that is why?

Ilovelala · 02/12/2019 22:08

40% of those given vaccination off sick in the week following at my daughters school

meditrina · 02/12/2019 22:10

It won't be a coincidence AF

Read the pack insert information leaflet. The side effects exist, and are flu like (which is obvious really, your immune system is beating off the dead/non-replicating virus - it won't give you the full blown disease because it is dead, but it is dealing with the viruses)

I had a rather more sore arm this year - enough for me not to be able to sleep in my usual side. Distinctly crabby the following day

londonrach · 02/12/2019 22:11

What side effects? My arm was sore for a day or sore but nothing compared to getting flu. I work for nhs and see patients who had flu jab...no side effects reported yet

Yamaya · 02/12/2019 22:12

Absolutely nothing for me

HappyHarlot · 02/12/2019 22:12

I just had a hot, sore arm and a bit of a temperature for the first 24 hours.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 02/12/2019 22:16

I had mine done this morning,been feeling achey and weird for last hr or so

Isleepinahedgefund · 02/12/2019 22:18

Yes! We have a scheme at work for free flu jabs and a lot of people were off for a couple of days after their jab. I felt rubbish for a few days and my arm swelled up - have never had any side effects before. Must be a particularly vicious strain in there this year.

DD was a bit under the weather after her up the nose one too.

itsgettingweird · 02/12/2019 22:22

I had jab. Had about 2 hours of feeling a little achy 8 ish hours after it being done.

Ds had the nasal spray. He had awful sudden temps, loss of appetite, headache and is very snotty. Started about 3 hours afterwards. He's 15 so can easily explain symptoms. Got a chesty cough currently!

BeeFarseer · 02/12/2019 22:22

No side effects whatsoever here, not even a sore arm this year.

belay · 02/12/2019 22:24

I had a flu jab for 4 years in a row. My dad was in a care home and another close relative was being treated for cancer.
I felt awful after each jab for a full week and then went on to get flu every year. Really debilitating flu, in bed for nearly two weeks each time. I stopped having the flu jab and have been fine ever since.
Never again !

Gem89415 · 02/12/2019 22:29

I had it last Tuesday as I am pregnant and was told 1 in 10 will have a reaction. I have never felt as ill as I did wed and Thursday. Had the most awful headache and aches all over with a fever. Luckily felt OK by Friday but the headache has only lifted today.

howu2 · 02/12/2019 22:30

I had it and was ill two days later with mild symptoms.

iVampire · 02/12/2019 22:32

The nasal spray is live, but is attenuated (weakened). Only those who are severely immunocompromised [chemotherapy patients for example] could be at risk of possible shedding

Yup - that’s me! I get my jab as soon as they are available, and my cohabiting DC get the jab on NHS (not the sniff because of shedding risk). But other than up close and personal in the same household, it’s not enough of a risk for me to have to stay away from children in general.

feistymumma · 02/12/2019 22:58

You might have something there OP have had two really bad bouts of cold flu like systems and chesty cough since having the jab. Could be unrelated. My daughter had hers last week and is also unwell.

ClientListQueen · 02/12/2019 23:00

Just a sore arm. I had it pretty early on so I wasn't affected by children shedding from the nasal spray

ScandiGirl10 · 02/12/2019 23:09

I had mine Saturday morning and felt sore and slightly feverish from Saturday afternoon to Sunday night (but no headache or fatigue like with actual flu), felt fine by today. Pharmacist said to be excepted as your body reacts to fight it (even though it is not live so you don’t feel ill from an actual virus attacking your body).

Rubyupbeat · 02/12/2019 23:57

I had no side effects, plus had the pneumonia jab at the same time.

HoldMyLobster · 03/12/2019 01:38

I had the flu shot, depo provera shot and allergy shot in one day.

Sore left arm, sore right arm, sore left bum cheek.

The rest of me felt fine.

ultrablue · 03/12/2019 01:59

First time having a flu jab after having awful flu symptoms the year before last (never been so ill and had to call in sick at work and I never not go in). Other than obligatory sore arm and a hacking chesty cough for 4 weeks afterwards I am ok,. I've just had a rare cold which cleared up a lot quicker than usual x

scaryteacher · 03/12/2019 07:53

Both my Mum and dh had side effects this year, and both are normally OK. Mum had her jab in UK, and dh had his in Belgium.

toddlermom · 03/12/2019 07:58

Really really sick with terrible flu symptoms after mine for about two weeks 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

DoorbellsSleighbellsSchnitzel · 03/12/2019 08:04

This is the first year in a long time I've had zero side effects - not even a sore arm!

Snaga · 03/12/2019 08:07

My arm was painfully sore for about 3 days but otherwise symptom free.