AIBU to get free flu vaccine if I don’t meet the vulnerable criteria?

[Thisisnotnormal69]

My workplace offers free flu vaccine vouchers to all staff, regardless of age, role, etc. I’m not in a frontline role. AIBU to book a jab in even though I don’t need it as much as others?

I know some are in short supply so don’t want to take provision from others. And this is if I can even get one booked! (Though I know a place near me has them available)

I have been trying for the last 4 weeks to get my extremely clinically vulnerable OH his flu vaccine. He had his sleeve rolled up all ready at the GPs when they realised that he was under 65 and needed a different vaccine to the one that they had supplies of. I have been contacting the pharmacies and surgery on a regular basis. They keep expecting supplies to come in but it isn't happening.

We have been through months of shielding and are still not mixing with anyone and only venturing out for numerous hospital appointments but now have to worry about picking up flu there as well as covid.

There has never been a problem getting his jab in the past. Businesses etc buying up supplies for their workers must surely be having a knock on effect on those that need it most urgently.

It doesn't exactly fill me with confidence for the distribution of any future Coronavirus vaccine.

If you are offered get it, it does not need to be a long thought out idea just get it done

[quote user1471457751]@haenow because the OP's employer is paying for it. Why on earth would the OP then pay for it herself?[/quote]
@user1471457751

Perhaps I was unclear...
I don’t think she should pay, it just seemed like she felt worried about it. Not that she should feel worried, of course. I don’t think she’s BU at all.

Our employer usually offers vouchers but has told us that the corporate schemes have been withdrawn this year.

They will still cover the cost of we can book one privately.

@Jammysod

Or pay for it if you don't meet the 'free' criteria. It's £9 in tesco.

There are no supplies available to purchase. You either qualify for one on NHS, have it purchased by employer or you go without.

@Florencex You definitely can, my friend paid and got one done in the pharmacy near to me (age 30s and doesn’t meet criteria) lots of others have sold out though. Lloyd’s pharmacy website offers private flu jabs for £12.99 though I don’t think they have stock round here at the moment.

Where I live the flu jab is free for everyone over 50 this year, but the 'non-vulnerable simply over-50s' (like me) won't get there's until November as they'll do everyone else first (through the GPs mostly).

But if you're offered it you should have it regardless of age. Our local bod in charge of health is urging as many people as possible to have it because it will reduce the flu rate across the community for those who can't have the flu jab. I've never had one before because I don't fall into any vulnerable category (usually!) but this year, I'm over 50, it's free, so I'm going to have it to do 'my bit' to protect others - if I didn't have the jab, and then went on to catch flu and gave it to a vulnerable person, then that would make me much more irresponsible than taking up a flu jab to start with!

The other issue is, of course, if a Covid vaccine does come on-stream later this year (optimistic, maybe, but many drs do seem to think it might happen) you have to leave at least 28 days between a flu vaccine and a Covid vaccine. So that's another reason to get the flu vaccine done asap, just in case.

Incidentally, both my DC get their flu jabs through work, both are only in their 20s (one had theirs this week - and the other actually had flu at university a few years ago, and knows how ill flu can make even a young, fit person...) but their workplaces order enough for all staff, so it's not causing a shortage elsewhere because it's all be planned for.

TLDR: Have the flu jab you've been offered, you're not depriving anyone, and you're doing a good thing for society!

My workplace, a major health insurance provider, advised that as gov are issuing 30m free flu vaccines to vulnerable people many private pharmacies have said they expect not to be able to meet demand of both NHS and private companies. As such my workplace this year will not be offering a free flujab to any office-based or WFH staff. Which is fair enough in my view.

I'm surprised other private employers are still pressing ahead or haven't been warned off in a similar manner. Priority should be on those identified by the NHS as vulnerable.

You should get it. You may not be vulnerable but you could give it to someone who is.