Thinking this year is more important than ever to have flu vaccine?

[ellieboulou33]

Big debate on our class what's app about the annual school flu vaccine, I've kept quiet with my opinion as prefer to remain neutral on these group chats but have replied saying my children would be having it.

On here I'm anonymous so can give my view which is, I think it's so important this year more than ever to vaccinate!

With everything going on I think any additional protection is a bonus.

A few mums are ranting that they don't trust it and for those that ARE vaccinating our kids, we had better take time to look up what goes into it.

AIBU to be pro flu vaccine?

My concern would be if lots of relatively healthy people take up the flu vaccine this year, that the predicted numbers will be wrong and people who really do need it won't be able to get it. Providers could have less capacity (due to covid guidelines restricting numbers, extra time for cleaning, being stretched due to covid, staff shortages due to isolation periods etc.). That's before considering whether there will be enough actual vaccines.

@Treesofwood

From what I can work out from conversation people are worried about it increasing the risk of catching other viral respratory illnesses? So usually not really an issue but if covid is also doing the rounds? Other big issue is people worrying about kids getting fever, which is normal side effect and not being able to get a test, so no school.

Lots of conspiracy theorists try to claim that the flu vaccination is the cause of SARS-CoV-2 because of a couple of studies into viral interference - most notably a study by GG Wolff on US Department of Defense staff that showed an increased risk of contracting some types of coronavirus after a flu shot. The study was based on the 2017-18 flu season, well before the pandemic, so SARS-Cov-2 wasn’t even (couldn’t have been) tested for.

But, of course, conspiracy theorists don’t really care about actual science. They’ve seen a published paper that seems to support one of their bullshit theories and they’re off.

Here’s a fuller explanation of the issue.

healthfeedback.org/claimreview/claim-that-flu-vaccine-increases-coronavirus-infection-is-unsupported-misinterprets-scientific-studies/

And here’s a rebuttal from the author of the original paper, explicitly saying it shouldn’t be used to draw a link between the flu shot and SARS-CoV-19:

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X20304862

As an nhs worker I always get the flu vacc - extra important this year, last thing we/you want is to get flu and covid....

I’m not anti vaccine
I won’t be having it and neither will my DC

@ZarasHouse

My concern would be if lots of relatively healthy people take up the flu vaccine this year, that the predicted numbers will be wrong and people who really do need it won't be able to get it. Providers could have less capacity (due to covid guidelines restricting numbers, extra time for cleaning, being stretched due to covid, staff shortages due to isolation periods etc.). That's before considering whether there will be enough actual vaccines.

GPs organise their vaccination schedule based on risk groups, the most at risk groups are invited first. As I’m high risk but under 75 I’m in the secons group at our surgery.

I had mine on Monday as did toddler DS. I'm pregnant and would never risk this baby or my existing child to an illness that kills if there was any way I could prevent that. Genuinely don't understand people who choose not to protect their children.

I’m eligible for the flu vaccine and my DD4 will have it too. Admittedly, despite my pro vaccine stance, I found myself very reluctant to accept it this year. I was entirely unexpectedly and seriously torn at what to do. I concluded it was down to a more profound distrust of the government and also some level of disillusionment with health services. The former I don’t believe actually has the capacity or competency to keep me or my family safe and the latter still feels like a fortress who I shouldn’t dare bother. In spite of that, rationally my DD has always had it and so we shall continue to do so but it did interest me how even without anticipating it, I was stopped in my tracks.

Love how those who are against anti-vaxxers are now deciding against. Finally some common sense on here.

I never usually get it myself as it tends to make people unwell and I don't have time for that. My daughter missed it last year as she was getting over a virus and the nurse at my GP surgery advised against it.

I think it might be useful this year because it might help prevent cases which might be mistaken for covid, particularly if this testing fiasco continues.

I have it annually. It’s fine.
Are the people who are banding opinions around people whose opinions you usually care about?

Don’t get involved, it’ll wind you up.

Definitely. I had flu a few years back years back which left me in hospital on oxygen for several nights. Was really frightening at the time. DS has asthma so has had the flu jab / spray since he was 2. He won’t have it in school though as he has sensory issues and wants one of us with him so he’ll have it at the doctors.

I have it every year, so do dc. we’ll be having it this year.

I think it is more important than ever to have it as it’s one less thing to be mistaken for COVID and to have kids off needing tests etc.

Also, who wants the flu anyway?

The problem with the nasal vaccine is that it contains pork gelatine so many ethnic minorities and vegetarians cannot have it

I had flu over Christmas a few years ago. Literally never been so ill in my life. It was grim. I fell ill two days before Xmas and I literally didn't get out out of bed until January, apart from to go the the bathroom. I wouldn't wish it on anyone - and it was such a waste of the school holidays!

The study posted by @Funkypolar was fully rebutted by its original authors two years later

www.physiciansbriefing.com/obgyn-women-s-health-11/flu-news-314/flu-vaccination-during-pregnancy-does-not-cause-miscarriage-743274.html

The flu vaccine does NOT cause miscarriages.

@stairway

The problem with the nasal vaccine is that it contains pork gelatine so many ethnic minorities and vegetarians cannot have it

Children can still have the injection rather than the nasal spray, my son has that rather than the spray. After trying to get him to have a hayfever nasal spray an injection for him is much easier.

Those of you who have had it. What are you going to do / what did you do if you / kids got a temperature after?
One of mine always gets a super high temp a few days later. Would that mean self isolation and a covid test? So many people at my work today (nhs) Considering not having one to avoid a potential 14 days of isolating.

I’ve had one the last couple of years through work at boots and they phoned me to organise one for this year, that’s never happened before and made me think they’re trying to do as many as possible To prevent flu making Covid even worse. Same for my 3yo dd they rang me to get her booked in. 2 years ago she wasn’t eligible (just turned 2 after the deadline and I couldn’t even buy her one) and I’m sure she had flu, it was awful.
For those saying they’re not anti Vax but won’t be getting one, why?

@ItsGoingTibiaK is this the paper they are discussing?
academic.oup.com/cid/article/54/12/1778/455098
Or a different one?

My children's vaccinations are up to date, I am not an anti-vaxxer, but they will not be having it.

DS2 is allergic to many things and his consultant has said it's too risky.

DS1 had it and was properly ill for days afterwards. I know he'd be more seriously ill with flu, but he might not get flu.

I've had flu once and, while it was horrendous, I've never had it again and I'm 47.

Aldo, as there are so many strains, I'm not convinced it would prevent flu.

One of mine always gets a super high temp a few days later. Would that mean self isolation and a covid test?

Letter from the GP inviting my 3yo for the spray says temperature is a common side effect and if it occurs in the first day or two of the spray and they have no other symptoms of covid then you don't have to self-isolate.

I'd presume if the temperature came on after the first couple of days, continued instead of quickly going away, or other symptoms developed than you would have to self-isolate?

A few three year olds dotted about us very different to entire schools full of children. Any of whom could be infected by covid and the inactivated flu virus at the same time.

[quote Treesofwood]@ItsGoingTibiaK is this the paper they are discussing?
academic.oup.com/cid/article/54/12/1778/455098
Or a different one?[/quote]
That paper (Cowling et al) is covered in the discussion of the first link I gave, but it tends to be the Wolff paper (see my second link) that gets shared around a lot because it showed some results specifically with coronaviruses (but not SARS-CoV-2).

My dh had flu them pneumonia about 10 years ago, a fit healthy 40 year old. It was beyond awful and was hospitalised. We have both had the flu vaccine every year since. I think anyone who doesn’t have it, is rather silly.

I've never had the flu vaccine. I've never had the flu.

There won't be enough vaccines to go around everyone (as usual). Its pretty selfish to have the vacinnation just in case. More so this year than ever. The vulnerable must be the priority.