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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:
StillUpSpooking · 18/10/2021 08:36

I’ve been having the flu jab for years through work. It covers different strains every year, and my reaction has varied every year too. Most years it’s been a sore arm for 24 hours. Once or twice I had no side effects at all, and there’ve been other years where the sore arm has lasted longer or I’ve felt really ropey. I wouldn’t worry too much that this year is different. I had a sore arm off and on for a week after both Covid jabs, but only a very mild one overnight after my booster last week. Hope you feel better soon!

AutumnLeafy · 18/10/2021 08:40

Are you sure you haven't caught covid?

Original poster
Incredibad · 18/10/2021 08:42

Oh don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely grateful to have had it, I’ve just never had a reaction before - and as for being the post boy/girl for censorship with my ‘fear thread’ - get a life love! I thought I might have had a complication at the injection site not that there was anything fundamentally wrong with the vaccine - you think I might have avoided the COVID ones if I was a frothing 5G-er Hmm

OP posts:
Reallyimeanreally2022 · 18/10/2021 08:49

@Incredibad

Oh don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely grateful to have had it, I’ve just never had a reaction before - and as for being the post boy/girl for censorship with my ‘fear thread’ - get a life love! I thought I might have had a complication at the injection site not that there was anything fundamentally wrong with the vaccine - you think I might have avoided the COVID ones if I was a frothing 5G-er Hmm
Perhaps re read your thread title Grin
Reallyimeanreally2022 · 18/10/2021 08:51

* i can’t help being freaked out *

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 18/10/2021 08:51

I don’t usually have any reaction, but did have a very sore/stiff arm this time. Only for about a day though..

Still a lot better than full blown flu! Only had it once, never again, thank you. Knocked my stuffing right out for at least 3 weeks even after I was miles better.

Original poster
Incredibad · 18/10/2021 08:51

Suggesting a vaccine is stronger this year (four strains this year) and might affect some more than others isn’t actually forbidding censorship

OP posts:
Original poster
Incredibad · 18/10/2021 08:53

I was freaked out- I’ve never reacted to one before. If you really think that means I’m a fearmongering slave to Fox News who thinks we all shouldn’t be getting our flu jab that’s a long reach you’ve got. It’s ok to ask other people if they’ve had the same thing you know.

OP posts:
foxychox · 18/10/2021 08:55

For all those reporting effects after the flu/COVID vaccines, please do your bit and report to the MHRA yellow card scheme online. Every piece of information is useful for the vaccine manufacturers.....

Original poster
Incredibad · 18/10/2021 08:55

Thank you to the folks saying it’s varied for them every year, most helpful :)

OP posts:
Reallyimeanreally2022 · 18/10/2021 08:57

@Incredibad

I was freaked out- I’ve never reacted to one before. If you really think that means I’m a fearmongering slave to Fox News who thinks we all shouldn’t be getting our flu jab that’s a long reach you’ve got. It’s ok to ask other people if they’ve had the same thing you know.
“Freaking out” It’s a Fox News golden quote
DeepaBeesKit · 18/10/2021 09:01

The effects you feel arent so much what's in the jab, as your immune system responding to it. It's not a live vaccine so it itself does nothing, but your immune system recognises that it's a bug and fights it. This is what gives you the side effects and it's good, your immune system is doing what it should.

Not everyone reacts the same because we've all had different previous exposures. I would expect lots of people may react more than usual this year because we've had a couple of years of not being exposed to much.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 18/10/2021 09:02

Dh and I had ours two weeks ago, no side effects at all. DS(17) had his 10 days ago, no side effects either.

DeepaBeesKit · 18/10/2021 09:03

Ps it's not that vaccine itself is any "stronger". It often protects against multiple strains and varies year on year. It's not a live vaccine so it can't be "stronger". It's that your immune response is more noticeable this year - probably because our immune systems are a bit out of practise.

knittingaddict · 18/10/2021 09:04

Both my husband and I have had theflue jab this year. Neither of us had any symptoms at all. Didn't last year either. I don't think your experience means much.

saraclara · 18/10/2021 09:05

I had mine (the over 60s) and only had a sore arm. Only once in ten years have I had anything more, and that could just have been an ill timed virus.

AuntieStella · 18/10/2021 09:06

I had no reaction this year.

But I have in previous years, when you just sailed through them.

It's all a bit random, and nothing to worry about

KT727 · 18/10/2021 09:06

I think it just varies so much person to person really. Hope you feel better soon!

LaurieFairyCake · 18/10/2021 09:08

I'm so envious of all of you with side effects this year as it generally means you have a good immune response I think ?

I have had NO side effects this year but have been horribly ill every other year I've had the flu jab !

CornishGem1975 · 18/10/2021 09:10

Apart from a sore arm, as usual, I've had no effects from the flu jab.

knittingaddict · 18/10/2021 09:10

By the way, I do know that the flu vaccine is tweaked each year for different strains. Just saying that I've never reacted on the two occasions I've had it. My husband has had it more years than me and never had an issue either.

I agree with others that the producers of vaccines don't make it stronger or weaker each year.

Sidge · 18/10/2021 09:11

It’s not “stronger” - it’s largely the same every year and is generally always 4 strains (a quadrivalent vaccine).

It’s just your immune response that varies. A sore arm and feeling unwell can be considered a stronger immune response. There’s some train of thought that it means you’ve had a good response to the vaccine and are less likely to catch those strains of flu!

SisterBeaverhausen · 18/10/2021 09:12

I thought it was different in that I've always reacted to the flu jab but this year nothing apart from a sore arm.

Sprostongreen21 · 18/10/2021 09:12

I had mine with my covid booster at the same time for work. Apart from an achy arm I’ve had no side effects. Everyone responds differently to vaccines.

FawnFrenchieMum · 18/10/2021 09:14

I think your body just reacts differently to some strains. I had one a couple of years ago that was like you have described but then last year I hardly had anything at all. Not had this years yet though.