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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

free private flu vaccines at work - fair?

49 replies

Orangejuicemarathoner · 12/10/2021 17:46

We are being offered free private flu vaccines at work, although I am aware of neighbours who cannot get their NHS vaccine at the moment because of shortages and delivery problems.

I'm in two minds about the fairness of this. Its a school - yes we want to keep it running, I am entitled to a free NHS one, if and when it becomes available-

I am not sure whether to take them up on their offer. I am not sure whether they should be offering at all. I am not sure whether they will be able to deliver on their offer

YABU - its fine for private companies to buy and pay for flu jabs for their employees

YANBU - all flu jabs should be made available to the NHS to decide on priorities

OP posts:
toolazytothinkofausername · 12/10/2021 17:49

YABU. It is a school. Children are germ spreaders so best for adults to protect themselves.

LaurieFairyCake · 12/10/2021 17:49

Private company or not it's a school so get it

I've mine booked in Boots tomorrow (London) even though I'm entitled to a flu vaccine I'd rather pay to get it done now rather than wait

MrzClaus · 12/10/2021 17:51

Not all flu vaccines are the same - the NHS vaccines / private vaccines / vaccines in pharmacies are often for different strains. They also use different supply chains 😊 If there's a local shortage it might be because they're prioritising covid boosters / third primary doses, locally to me they're running clinics alongside each other but the covid ones are getting priority.

Also - if you refuse a free dose, it won't be given to one of your neighbours so I'd take it if you want it!

GoWalkabout · 12/10/2021 17:52

Jabs is jabs, the aim is to jab lots of people. You're not helping anyone by hanging back. Whether its right or wrong is not under your control, you're not wresting it out of an 80yo hand.

LonginesPrime · 12/10/2021 17:53

They're obviously doing it to protect everyone and to safeguard pupils' education and minimise absences of both staff and students.

If you have the jab now through work, you're actually saving the NHS money as someone else can have your free NHS dose - so one extra NHS patient will get their jab before stocks run out at your GP surgery (or wherever you have your NHS jab).

negomi90 · 12/10/2021 17:54

I think they're a bit patchy at the moment. I've had mine done at my GPs on the NHS, they said they got stock early. The NHS hospital I work at (in another town) hasn't started their staff flu jab campaign yet.
Get it if you can as soon as you can, you not taking it now, won't mean the jab will go to someone more deserving, it will just mean that you have a longer period of time at risk.

Alconleigh · 12/10/2021 17:54

Laurie if you're entitled to a flu vaccine you shouldn't have to pay at Boots; I didn't last year. I went to Boots rather than wait for my surgery to get round to it, they checked my eligibility and that was it. They then contact your surgery I believe.

MissConductUS · 12/10/2021 17:56

It's a benefit to the NHS that private organizations are doing this, and not just because of the cost. From a public health standpoint, the more people immunized early in the season the better.

Bells3032 · 12/10/2021 17:59

@lauriefairycake if you're entitled to free flu jabs then boots won't charge you. Booked mine there. I'm pregnant and got it free. My husband had it there last year and it flagged that he was entitled to a free Jab.

As for op no I think it takes pressure off the NHS both for the jab and for treating people with flu

Tereseta · 12/10/2021 18:00

They should be provided but only for people who are not entitled under NHS. My work,civil service, say that we can't apply for a voucher if we get one through nhs.

Waspsarearseholes · 12/10/2021 18:04

How would taking up a GP appointment to have one make things easier for people who don't have access to it through work? The idea is that as many people as possible get jabbed to protect themselves and everyone else

clarepetal · 12/10/2021 18:04

I work in a school and if they provide them this year I will take it. I won't feel guilty, I had to work with classrooms full of infected kids whilst I know people who worked from home for the council and were bumped up with the vaccine. Were school staff offered this? Like arse we were.

BluebellsGreenbells · 12/10/2021 18:05

I've mine booked in Boots tomorrow (London) even though I'm entitled to a flu vaccine I'd rather pay to get it done now rather than wait

Boots offer the free jab to those eligible

Original poster
Orangejuicemarathoner · 12/10/2021 18:10

ok, I am going to take the jab. You have helped me make up my mind

OP posts:
MissConductUS · 12/10/2021 18:31

I'm in the US. Years ago it was a pain in the arse to get any vaccination, including flu. It had to be done at a doctor's office. Then the regulations were changed to allow pharmacies to give them and private employers could contract with pharmacies and medical practices to do them on site. The result was much higher uptake rates and lower infection rates. Anything that puts more jabs in arms sooner is a good thing.

Thank goodness we had this in place pre covid.

Saoirse82 · 12/10/2021 19:37

I had to pay for mine when I booked it online through boots. I'm 35 weeks pregnant and didn't want to wait til the GP contacted me which could be a couple of weeks away. They didn't ask whether I was pregnant when booking, just if I was aged over 50. I didn't mind paying as its only £15 and worth it

ShinyMe · 12/10/2021 19:45

It's free to you - it's not free. Your employer will be contributing.

Jonesy88 · 12/10/2021 19:50

I was having an NHS one but it got cancelled, however the local pharmacy is offering vaccines at £15. I went to book and they had an option to say if you are entitled to a free jab. So I’ve sorted myself out that way as the GP just hadn’t got back to me. Perhaps your neighbour could do the same?

SpamIAm · 12/10/2021 19:50

I'm not aware of any shortages this year? There have been some delays but supplies are plentiful I think. I'm nhs, not frontline, and it's the first time in years they've allowed us to get flu jabs right from the start of the campaign rather than reserving them for frontline staff due to concerns about supply.

MissConductUS · 12/10/2021 20:02

There's plenty in the US. My local pharmacy was doing them in mid-August, no appointment was required.

Tuliptulip · 12/10/2021 20:04

I had the flu jab today at a Lloyd’s pharmacy- I paid beforehand but when they checked my d.o.b (23/3/72) they pointed out that if you turn 50 before 30/3/22 you’re entitled to a free one, so they then gave me a refund!
The NHS are encouraging people to get them from local pharmacies so no one has to wait for their GP to be ready!
www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/pharmacy-nhs-flu-vaccine-service

KatherineofGaunt · 12/10/2021 20:05

I wish all schools gave staff the flu jab. I couldn't get one two years ago or last year and in 2019 I really suffered with it. I will keep trying to get one this year, but it's hit and miss.

AnnaMagnani · 12/10/2021 20:12

There are delays I think due to lorries - my GP surgery had all their appointments booked and then had to cancel as supplies were delayed due to lorry driver shortages.

They are rebooking about a month later but I've gone for a free one at Boots. If you are in one of the many categories which get you a free jab, you won't be charged at pharmacy (I fall in about 3)

The more people who have a flu jab the better in my view.

ThinWomansBrain · 12/10/2021 20:30

It's for any employer to minimise the costs - financial and in terms of the disruption of staff being away with flu.
I think there may be delivery issues in some areas - I used the NHS link a pp has listed above - not all the pharmacies listed had the vaccine, one chain was offering paid-only vaccines, no NHS ones.

echt · 12/10/2021 20:31

While the situation is not the same, my school in Victoria has provided free 'flu vaccinations to staff since 2006.

They really really don't want adults in school to get ill.