Do you have the flu jab?

[uka888]

Just that really, never had it before but wondering if I should this year. I’m in my 30s.

If you get flu, it will weaken your immunity and ability to fight Covid if you are exposed to that too. Having both at once could well be fatal.
The flu jab is safe and hugely preferable to having an illness that can cause long term damage or death. Flu infection can cause heart damage, lung damage, encephalitis and post viral fatigue. It is not just “a bad cold”.
If your local supermarket pharmacy has availability, OP, it would be sensible to get immunised.

And post viral fatigue is no bloody joke!

I have it every year as I work in a hospital. I'm also in my 30s, no health issues, I only have it to avoid passing it on to patients/family/colleagues. It's q slightly different vaccine each year as the try to work out which strain is the most prevalent as flu mutates so quickly. Side effects wise I always have an achy arm for a cost of days after, sometimes feel a bit tired for a few days. That's it.

Thank you for everyone’s replies. I think I’ve read to many negative stories on the internet about feeling awful for days after which has played on my mind!

I've just had it for the first time. £12 in a local pharmacy. I'm doing shopping etc for my Dad this year as we need to keep him safe. I had no side effects at all except for a slightly tender arm which caused me no issues.

@HoldMyLobster

I'm very sorry to hear about your friend and step sister

I'm now 66 so was contacted by my GP for a flu jab this year and had it for the first time, as did my husband who is 74. The only side-effects were a headache later the same day as I had the jab and a painful arm around the site of the injection which started a couple of days afterwards and lasted another 2 days. Trivial side-effects in comparison to the benefit.

I had it when pregnant but that's it. I've had the flu once and whilst it was pretty rubbish from what I remember, it wasn't a common enough occurrence or bad enough to pay for a vaccine. If it was free I would though.

Always. I'm self-employed and don't get sick pay.

My sister was really ill late jan, knocked off her feet, took ages to shift and couldn't lift pillow, now we are wondering was it covid? But it wasnt in the media?

I do and have this year. This is not the year to be hospitalised with flu complications. The further away from hospitals the better, and those around me are vulnerable, and I don't want them to have to be hospitalised either.

I had it this year. I have a heart condition

Nope
Never have, no plans to start

I've never had it. If there were enough vaccines for everyone I'd consider it, but as I'm healthy, WFH, no kids and have relatively little contact with anyone at the moment I kind of feel like a vaccine would be better used by someone else this year.

Always. I’ve had the flu earlier in my life. I don’t want it again. It was truly horrendous.

Yes, usually FIL pays for us all to have it to protect MIL, but couldn’t get appointments.

When the drs phoned for the DC they offered me one, despite not being vulnerable so I took it. One SIL has asthma, the other is pregnant so all the women have had it. It’s just DH & BIL’s that haven’t. If we can get appointments we will. Half of us done is better than none of us!

No. Had influenza when I was younger, and as awful as it was, I don't believe it's something that warrants a vaccination.

If they could protect me against viral gastroenteritis on the other hand....

Genuinely the only time in my life I thought and hoped I was going to die.

Im vulnerable anyway but rye couple are f times i have had the flu i have been SO ill for so long its been awful. Loosing a fortnight of time due to the high temperature and really unwel phase, then just not really being able to get back on your feet properly for weeks. Its an incredibly nasty thing.

Yes, every year for the last 8 years. So does my eligible child. I don't want to pass flu on plus it's free, so no reason not to.

Free for me and DC1 I mean

Yes, every year, I’m diabetic.

yes. I get mine at the doctors but if I didn't work would pay for it.

Got it free from hospital I worked in for a while, now tend to pay. I’m very pro vaccine, just occasionally lazy to go and get it!

I did this year, I dont usually.

I got it because they encouraged everyone to get one, before they realised there wasnt enough to go around