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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the flu jab this year is seriously strong?

94 replies

Incredibad · 18/10/2021 04:53

Oof - got jabbed on Friday morning and still suffering now on Monday morning with a sore arm, sweating, swelling lymph nodes in that armpit etc - I’m starting to freak out that something went wrong with the injection? I know the pharmacist has done a million of them but I can’t help being freaked out as I usually sail through them with no effects at all. Having trouble sleeping with the soreness which isn’t even supposed to be that usual if you’re under 65 - anyone else been a bit knocked by this years jab. Please stop me freaking out!

OP posts:
RobinPenguins · 18/10/2021 07:29

I didn’t even get a sore arm after mine this year which has sent me on a whole different line of stressing that it hasn’t worked!

pussycatlickinglollyices · 18/10/2021 07:33

We had ours done last Sunday, and apart from a little tenderness in the site, were fine next day.

This years vaccine has 2 Influenza A strains and 2 Influenza B strains. The 2 B strains are the same as last years.

Lonecatwithkitten · 18/10/2021 07:36

@Roussette

I got mine at Boots and my sister got hers at an independent chemist. They seem more reliable than the GPs

What does that mean???

The GPS here book people in and then cancel at short notice. DH was due to have his at 10am on Wednesday the GP system texted at 11pm on Tuesday to cancel await further news.
RagzReturnsRebooted · 18/10/2021 07:37

I've never reacted to one before, but I did get an evening of feeling hot and grotty and then 2 days of horrible headaches. Several colleagues had the same. Anecdotally (I work in healthcare and give the jabs), it does seem to be causing more reactions this year. I like to think that means it's more effective!

ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife · 18/10/2021 07:39

I had no reaction at all, not even a sore arm.

Fluffycloudland77 · 18/10/2021 07:42

I had a sore arm for ten minutes after mine.

Roussette · 18/10/2021 07:43

Thanks LoneCat
I thought you meant more reliable with the type of jab!

Esspee · 18/10/2021 07:53

OH and I had ours on Saturday. We are fine, we always are because we don’t read the possible side effects leaflet.

Rubyupbeat · 18/10/2021 07:54

My arm wasn't even sore, same as with covid jabs

gukvguk · 18/10/2021 07:56

No reaction here at all. I think it's just luck.

Dandy0911 · 18/10/2021 07:57

If you look on the NHS website, it says the Flu Vaccine isn't a live vaccine, therefore it won't give you the flu.

There are so many colds and viruses going round at the minute so you've probably come down with something at the same time.

Reallyimeanreally2022 · 18/10/2021 07:59

For your own personal experience
You extrapolate that there must be something fundamentally wrong with the vaccine
And start a fear thread

You’re the post girl/boy for censorship

Reallyimeanreally2022 · 18/10/2021 07:59

Poster

pourmeanotherglass · 18/10/2021 07:59

I had mine with my Covid booster, one in each arm. I felt quite ill for 3-4 days, but dont know which jab caused that or whether it was the ccombination. Mostly fever, headache, brain fog and tiredness but also felt a bit queasy.

NeedAHoliday2021 · 18/10/2021 08:01

Mine was 2 weeks ago - no side effects for me. I always worry I don’t seem to react to vaccines and wonder if they’re working.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 18/10/2021 08:03

@Dandy0911

If you look on the NHS website, it says the Flu Vaccine isn't a live vaccine, therefore it won't give you the flu.

There are so many colds and viruses going round at the minute so you've probably come down with something at the same time.

Sounds exactly like the reaction they tell you is extremely common after the jab- ' flu like symptoms for up to 5 days after the jab, stay hydrated and take pain killers'
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 18/10/2021 08:04

** is what they always say when I'm vaccinated.

ATieLikeRichardGere · 18/10/2021 08:10

I’ve never had side effects before but I did this year. I wondered if it’s to do with not having been exposed to flu for so long, but suspect that doesn’t actually make sense. Who knows!

muddyford · 18/10/2021 08:10

I had mine a month ago and didn't even have a sore arm. Same for DH this weekend. We had ours done by Boots as their supply chain was functioning more effectively than to GPs.

FingersofFish · 18/10/2021 08:14

I think this is normal for some. I always get terrible side effects so stopped getting it a couple of years ago as it knocks me out for a week usually. I am getting it this year though hopefully!

MrsLargeEmbodied · 18/10/2021 08:21

no ill effects at all,
never do

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 18/10/2021 08:26

@Incredibad - I would guess that the after effects are worse this year because you've had the Covid vaccines.

They are having some unusual effects on people - for example, there are reports of people having allergic reactions to hair dye, when they've previously had none whatsoever - some serious. So it makes sense to me that people's reactions to the flu vaccine might also be stronger following the Covid jabs.

Wolfiefan · 18/10/2021 08:29

Hardly even had a sore arm this year. You’ve been unlucky. Still better than flu!

SequinnedShawl · 18/10/2021 08:30

We had ours on Saturday and we've both got a very painful arm.

whitehorsesdonotlie · 18/10/2021 08:30

Three in my family have had it so far this year, and so side effects at all. I didn't even have a sore arm. Other two had sore arm for 24 hours. So odd how vaccines affect different people in different ways.