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?

Definitely will have it

There is no such thing as natural immunity to the flu. There is if you’ve had the flu in the past. That’s literally how immunity works.

The flu virus changes over time, so do the prevalent strains. You might have old antibodies but as the virus alters, those antibodies no longer recognise it and it can infect you again. The reason the flu vaccine is given yearly is because humans don't build up long term resistance/immunity to flu, the vaccine attempts to counteract this by protecting you against the most likely common strains for that year.

The reason the flu vaccine is given yearly is because humans don't build up long term resistance/immunity to flu

That's not true. Our immunity is long lasting but the flu virus mutates quickly and so each year there are different strains that we need to develop immunity to. In the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 older people were not as badly affected, probably because of their immunity acquired during a flu pandemic in the 19th century.

People definitely call a bad cold flu. I know people who have said they did this or that even though they were ill with flu. There is no way with full on flu you could be active at work etc. Luckily (well not really) I had flu over Xmas when my family was off work. I could not have looked after the kids at all. I started feeling slightly unwell xmas day, by the 27th I was unable to get out of bed. I was able to a few things indoors by about the 6th Jan. It was 3 weeks before I could actually do anything for more than a minute or two.

@Oxyiz

I have such a phobia of needles. Does anyone know if there is a way to get the nasal vaccine as an adult? I've been googling it but it looks like they only offer it to kids.

No, it’s only licensed up to the age of 18.

Witches you do realise that “flu” is an entire family of viruses don’t you? And that everybody has a different immune system and reacts differently even to the exact same virus?

Covid 19 definitely kills and hospitalises loads of people but that doesn’t mean that the people who had a bit of a high temperature for a few days couldn’t possibly have had Covid 19. Likewise the fact that you personally were wiped out for three weeks with one particular strain of flu doesn’t mean that anyone who was able to do the school run or whatever couldn’t possibly have had flu.

There is a lot of overlap between a bad case of cold and a mild case of flu.

I've never bothered to get it before. There are so many strains of quickly-mutating flu that it didn't feel worth vaccinating against a subset of those. But I will this year, to take the strain off the NHS. They don't need me in hospital with flu when they have Covid-19 cases to deal with too.

I'm not an anti-vaxxer by any means, my kids are up-to-date with all their jabs however will not be having the flu vaccine this year. My son had it last year and ended up really ill shortly after and ended up having to have the paramedics out. Hes rarely ever ill so I dont think it was a coincidence that he had the flu vaccine before and I wont be taking that chance again.

@Roowig2020

I'm not anti vac either but I won't be giving it to my dc, and haven't in previous years. They are young, no health problems etc. I work for nhs and won't be having it either. I'm also relatively young, healthy and have never had flu. Even if we got it the chances are we'd be fine plus it won't do anything to protect against Corona.

...NHS staff are meant to get the flu jab every year to help protect patients rather than themselves. You can spread flu without having symptoms. Can't see a reason you wouldn't get it unless you were an anti vaxxer.

I get it free from work and will no doubt be administering to countless other people. My dc will be having it too. My dh will again choose not to and that is his choice, if he gets flu he can nurse himself.

Absolutely will be getting the flu vaccine

I’ve never had flu so I would t have it.
2 friends had it and one suffered from hearing problems afterwards and the other felt so ill for a week she had to sign off work.

My dh will again choose not to and that is his choice, if he gets flu he can nurse himself.

You'd better throw the dressing gown of doom in the wash in preparation.

I’ve never had flu so I would t have it.

Never having had the flu is luck, not some superhuman immunity.

I've never been in a car crash so I don't wear a seatbelt.

My child has never fallen in his/ her head so I haven't bought them a cycle helmet.

My house has never been on fire, so I don't have smoke alarms.

My child has never been ill or in an accident at school, so I left fake contact details with school.

My dog has never been ill or in an accident so I don't have pet insurance.

I've never been ill or in an accident on holiday or just before, so I don't take out travel insurance.

I've never died so I don't have life insurance, or a will.

Absolutely spot on @UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme

DH and I aren't in risk groups and don't normally get one. This year we'll be paying (£12.99 at a local pharmacy) as it just seems common sense to do what you can to stay healthy this year

I'm an nhs worker and usually get one. Some of my colleagues are opposed to it though. I'll have it this year

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace

I'm not opposed to it but am only in my 50s – not knocking at the Door of Death just yet – and consider myself very low risk for flu, so I don't see the need to have the vaccine.

This is pretty much word for word what my 50 year old stepsister said. She died of flu.

@Devlesko

Nah, wouldn't touch it, neither will my kids (grown up), nor for their kids. Read up about it, then make up your mind. I bet there will be far fewer cases anyway as most will have covid. Or be protected by masks and all this hand sanitising.

YOU've already decided what vaccinations your grandkids won't have?

@MissConductUS @Funkypolar If you read that article properly, it clearly states that it's only happened when the pregnant mother had the flu vaccine within 28 days prior to the miscarriage

@FizzAfterSix

I’ve never had flu so I would t have it. 2 friends had it and one suffered from hearing problems afterwards and the other felt so ill for a week she had to sign off work.

It takes more than a week to get over 'flu and of course she had to sign off work.

I'm glad you've never had the 'flu, you have no idea what 'flu is until you do :-).

[quote Alwaysinpain]**@MissConductUS* @Funkypolar* If you read that article properly, it clearly states that it's only happened when the pregnant mother had the flu vaccine within 28 days prior to the miscarriage [/quote]
I don't recall making a claim to the contrary.

That study is a great example of what's called in medicine a "nothing burger". A purely retrospective analysis finding a weak effect that is contradicted by other research. And it's just the kind of thing anti-vaxers pick up and wave around as if it came down from heaven on golden tablets.

17CherryTreeLane

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

My husband is allergic to neomycin and gentomycin so can’t have the standard vaccine. There is an alternative which the surgery sources every year.

I want to watch Mary Poppins now 😁

I heard a report that flu rates and deaths were the lowest they had been in years. Mainly due to the travel restrictions by Covid. So actually we are far less at risk but if you do catch both then I don't rate yer chances.