Single mums should be offered a free flu jab?

[Journeyintomelody]

This is off the back of a very hard week. I picked up a nasty dose of flu, probably from a baby group. I have a super high pain threshold but when I have a cold I'm utterly useless. I need two or three days to hibernate and recover.

Last week I discovered that you can't do this as a single mum. DD (7.5 months) needed me. So I had to plough on, and it was hard. It's been over a week and I still haven't shaken it off completely, but now DD has it (it's breaking my heart to see her unwell). She has been dosed up with Calpol but is very unsettled. Between the two of us, it is probably going to write off nearly 3 weeks.

AIBU to think that single parents should be offered free flu jabs?

This was my thinking. I don't necessarily think it should be pushed onto people, but I don't agree they should turn anyone away in this position.

I'm surprised lupus doesn't qualify you for a free flu jab.

But agree with others you can always find someone who get it free because .....

I get it because I'm the main carer for my ds who is 20 now and in the vulnerable group. I'm also a LP but if married only 1 person is entitled as "main carer".

We've just had it this morning. He also got the covid jab but unlike previous years I'm not entitled to it as a carer.

Ironically I've had it twice (once ore jabs and once 6 weeks after!) and he's never caught it.

Unfortunately, you may not have benefited even if you had one. You might have a different virus or a different strain of flu.
It is extremely hard as a single parent so much sympathy but no, I don’t think it should be free for single parents.

@YOYOK I do completely see your point, and deep down agree. I think my mind is slightly clouded by the fact I am sat here feeling like crap with DD also sick. It's just hard, and I wish there was a magic cure, but there isn't.

Same but I accept it as if I get ill life is very hard.

but those groups are because they are more at risk themselves. not because if they became ill people they care for might suffer.

Where would you draw the line?

You've already expanded from single mums to all single parents, and then to all new parents. How about people who are carers for elderly or disabled relatives, they would be as incapacitated as single parents and the people they care for are as vulnerable (possibly more so depending on the age of the child) than children. How about people who are in relationships but the partner works away, in the army, on oil rigs or whatever? When do you decide a child is old enough to look after itself if their parent did get the flu?

It would end up being free for 80% of the population at which point you may as well make it free for everyone because the admin would outweigh the savings.

Besides which it only prevents against one illness. perhaps the single parent wouldn't get the flu but gets a horrendous bout of norovirus or breaks both their arms, there's no magic solution for that. If someone doesn't have enough of a support network to help in any short-term emergency that's more of a concern than reducing the possibility of them getting one specific illness.

The jab is only £13 in asda! same as a nice bottle of wine. Someone upthrea said it is even cheaper in superdrug. Most people can afford that if it's a priority for them. By the time you've bought a bottle or two of night nurse and multiple packs of nurofen and lemsip the jab is much cheaper than medication to treat the flu.

Being poorly and a sole parent to a poorly young baby is extremely hard. Be kind to yourself and take it easy.

I’m a doctor. People say flu and it’s not flu. Flu can hospitalise people in their 30s. If you managed to function after a couple of days it’s not flu. We test for it in hospital like Covid.

Get that completely. I've had flu 3 or 4 times in my life. This is equivalent. Not just feeling under the weather.

YANBU OP. But any suggestion here that any kind of concession be made for single mums is going to get jumped on. Have you been accused of "making a lifestyle choice" yet? It's in the patriarchy's interest to ensure that single mums have as miserable a time as possible to discourage mothers with shit male partners from leaving them.

They could make things a bit less divisive by offering the jab to all parents of babies and toddlers though.

I was very lucky in that I have asthma, so was offered free jabs. An absolute lifeline- I was terrified of getting ill when the DC were small. I seem to have fallen off the free jabs list recently- probably because our surgery is buckling under the sheer weight of all the pensioners. But that's OK, because my DC are now just about old enough to fend for themselves up to a point.

I'm a bit puzzled at people trotting out the "Well, unless you were flat on your back for 2 weeks it wasn't flu" line. If Covid- and regular testing for it- taught us one thing, wasn't it that it's possible for some people to be infected with a potentially deadly virus and suffer only from mild cold- type symptoms?

That is the first time I have ever heard anyone say "I'm very lucky in that I have asthma" 😂 I'm just realising that getting ill as a single parent is a BIG deal. If there is anyway to prevent some of the common and more serious illnesses, then that is a good thing. I understand why people would not agree with the free provision aspect, however, if a lone parent who is struggling asks the GP, I don't think they should be turned away.

The other thing is that you're assuming having two parents means you do 50/50 childcare when you're ill.

It's fairly common for a male partner to be sicker (whether perceived or in reality) so you end up looking after man and baby while sick yourself.

It's like that with life, nothing is a problem until it is one then you realise and wonder how you coped! I've done it before!

Hope you're both feeling better

I agree. Surprised that line came from a doctor too. I'm not medically trained so can't pass comment. Surely the fact that some people get hospitalised is evidence that flu affects people differently. Not everyone who gets flu is hospitalised. It is clear that people can have different experiences when they have flu.

Although you don't strictly qualify for the vaccine on the NHS if you are not currently on therapy, people who are likely to need high dose steroids in the next few months do and you may be included in this group. Clinicians can also use clinical judgement and I personally, would take you being a single parent of a child at nursery into consideration.

You may find going for an NHS vaccine via a local pharmacy a better option than your GP surgery. Something else to consider for next year is that typically private vaccines are available from mid September whilst the NHS programme starts a few weeks later. Depending on your circumstances it might make sense to go privately if it means being done sooner.

Obviously get your DC done asap too, including this year.

I hope you recover and have a better season next year.

in two words you have said the solution. "Clinical judgement". Maybe it's naive to say single mums should be given a flu vaccine. However there are certainly situations where people are more vulnerable and could benefit from the vaccine such as a lone parent with no family support or childcare, struggling financially for whatever reason, have multiple caring responsibilities, self employed without sick pay, perhaps has other health conditions. I think it is an insult to GPs to not allow them to use some discretion and their better judgement when they think the benefits of giving the vaccine outweigh the costs.

I’m a single mum, the jab is £10 here. Never had a problem paying for it before. I think instead of single mums being given it for free then the most vulnerable should be given it for free and everyone else can pay. Not every single mum is unable to afford it, you’re excluding single dads and single carers of adult or non related children who arguably need their carers just as much as your kids need you.

With respect, have you read my posts? In my OP I stated single parents (admittedly the thread title said single mums but I did clarify) I have acknowledged carers and I have not said that single parents should be prioritised above people who are most vulnerable.

It's my understanding that the Carers who are receiving the free flu vaccination on the NHS, in the cases you describe, are receiving it not to prevent the Carer role breaking down (although this is understandably likely to be the Carer's motivation for having the vaccine), it's to lower the risk of the person they are caring for (who is very likely to already be in a vulnerable group, so receiving a vaccine) from catching flu from the Carer.
So it's primarily about protecting the person being cared for. The Carer is a potential source of infection to them, so becomes eligible this basis.
One argument people put forward against the above seems to be 'Well, if the person they're caring for has had the flu vaccination themselves, surely they are protected without the need for the Carer to have a vaccine too!'. However, they possibly don't realise that the person being cared for may have an inefficient 'response' to vaccines due to their general condition. Their immune system has not made the antibodies, despite being fully vaccinated. So the Carer being vaccinated lowers the risk to the cared for person.

I’m a doctor. People say flu and it’s not flu. Flu can hospitalise people in their 30s. If you managed to function after a couple of days it’s not flu. We test for it in hospital like Covid.

You’re a doctor and you aren’t aware that flu can be mild or asymptomatic? That’s very concerning.

I think it is an insult to GPs to not allow them to use some discretion and their better judgement when they think the benefits of giving the vaccine outweigh the costs.

Just to clarify, GPs can also use clinical judgement and do on patients in front of them. The issue is that people not on the recall lists don't get an invite so don't always realise they might be eligible.

Are you sure it wasn't covid OP? Flu is at very low levels ATM (it normally peaks later in the winter) whereas there is a big spike of covid right now.

Also even if you were eligible it is unlikely you would have had the vaccine yet anyway. In my area carers are only just being asked to book in now.

Anyone can get a free flu jab by just saying they’re pregnant and going to a chain pharmacy. It’s a white lie but if you’re struggling do it.

No, it’s like a tenner isn’t it? 😂