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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you’re having a flu vaccine?

205 replies

MzGG · 02/12/2025 11:10

My GP surgery has text me to inform me that I’m duet flu vaccine. I’m going to book myself in.

Will you be having one too?

OP posts:
LakieLady · 02/12/2025 17:15

I hardly ever get flu and I haven't had a flu vax for years. The couple of times I've had one, I felt like I was coming down with flu for months, so on balance I prefer to risk the real thing.

Now if there was a cold vaccine, I'd have one every year...

DinoLil · 02/12/2025 17:15

Had mine a couple of months ago.

Pollymollydolly · 02/12/2025 17:20

Have had flu, covid and pneumonia vaccines this year. Always have flu and covid, first time having pneumonia vaccine but it lasts 10 years so won’t need that again for a while

RafaistheKingofClay · 02/12/2025 17:21

Missed the GP flu clinic and have been slack in getting it sorted so had it yesterday. Usually get it way earlier than this. Should really have got pharmacy to do it when I had the Covid vaccine a couple of months ago.
Managed to get it before I hit flu though which is the important thing. The flu wave is hitting early this year.

OtherS · 02/12/2025 17:31

ChristmasMantleStatue · 02/12/2025 17:10

I got mine at a local independent pharmacy. It cost £19.99. I'm actually eligible for a free one at the medical centre, but this one is more convenient and the pharmacist is an absolute genius with jabs- I can't even feel the 'sharp scratch' that they always tell you to expect. Grin

If you're eligible to get it free on the NHS then the chemist will do it free for you too, you just need to give them your details. (Or at least the ones round here will, I assume it's the same everywhere?)

Caroparo52 · 02/12/2025 17:32

Had mine in October

SwirlyShirly · 02/12/2025 17:38

I had mine last week. A little bit of an achy arm for the next day but no other symptoms. I have it every year because of asthma and kidney disease and have never had any bad reaction to it.

AliTheMinx · 02/12/2025 17:48

I was offered one at my surgery, but haven't taken it up. I am not really sure why I was offered one, and this has sort of put me off going - which I know sounds silly!!!!! I don't class myself as being vulnerable.. I am not ant-vax, but equally haven't ever really had flu. People I know who have had the vaccine have still had flu the same year.

Nanny0gg · 02/12/2025 17:50

Qualityroses · 02/12/2025 14:04

I've never had flu. I'm never ill. I've only ever had a couple of colds in my whole life and thats it. I don't feel the need for a flu jab.

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Medical marvel if you don't ever catch any viruses.

AliTheMinx · 02/12/2025 17:50

My DS (14l will have the nasal flu sniffer at school

Nanny0gg · 02/12/2025 17:51

Boomer55 · 02/12/2025 16:15

Nope. Not interested.

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Why?

Luxio · 02/12/2025 17:53

AliTheMinx · 02/12/2025 17:48

I was offered one at my surgery, but haven't taken it up. I am not really sure why I was offered one, and this has sort of put me off going - which I know sounds silly!!!!! I don't class myself as being vulnerable.. I am not ant-vax, but equally haven't ever really had flu. People I know who have had the vaccine have still had flu the same year.

You were offered a flu jab and you've chosen to not have it because they offered it you for free?

That's very silly indeed.

I also don't get everyone saying they won't have the jab because they have never had the flu.

Firstly you could have had it but been asymptomatic but secondly the logic is flawed for example I presume when you all get in cars you put on a seatbelt even if you've never been in an accident so why not take the same precaution with something like flu?

cardibach · 02/12/2025 17:54

smallglassbottle · 02/12/2025 12:19

Can't be bothered, we're just avoiding people. We're retired, so it's not difficult.

I could t live my life avoiding people! I’m also retired but I’m out doing things all the time. It’s not really an effort. Much easier to do it than faff around avoiding people surely?

cardibach · 02/12/2025 17:55

azafata2 · 02/12/2025 12:22

Same here. Had it about 4 weeks ago. Been in bed unable to move since last Friday with the flu. 👍

Unfortunately it doesn’t build immunity for a couple of months. Bad luck.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 02/12/2025 17:59

I had it in September (paid as not eligible for a free one)

jannier · 02/12/2025 18:01

SJM1988 · 02/12/2025 11:16

I had mine back in Sept when they released the paid for appointments. I get it every year as soon as I can.

DH doesn't have it. The only year he got it, he got flu so feels its not worth it.

Does he not understand that if you've already caught flu before symptoms come out the jab won't stop it and if you get flu after the symptoms are milder

SunnieShine · 02/12/2025 18:01

Paid to have mine last week. Money well spent.

StrawberryLane · 02/12/2025 18:05

I had a £16 tesco one.

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 02/12/2025 18:06

I had mine in October.

Puppypower83 · 02/12/2025 18:08

Yes! Because me and DH had flu last year and he ended up with pneumonia on oxygen for a week. In his early 40s and fit and well normally. Couldn't believe it! £9.99 in Superdrug with the beauty card. No side effects.

NinaNina83 · 02/12/2025 18:08

yes I had mine a month ago and got our 3 year old vaccinated too. Our 7 year old has hers at school which didn’t happen until yesterday and she was very unwell with high temperature and zero energy two weeks ago, same for my husband who’s also not vaccinated . Me and our 3 year old only had a bit of a cold.

Puppypower83 · 02/12/2025 18:10

Funnywonder · 02/12/2025 16:40

People talking about ‘proper’ flu - you do realise you can have ‘proper’ flu with very few symptoms or no symptoms? You never forget a bad bout though. It’s horrific.

Yes we were told this in A&E. I'd always believed in the "it's not flu unless you're half dead" trope until then.

Waitingfordoggo · 02/12/2025 18:12

Luxio · 02/12/2025 17:53

You were offered a flu jab and you've chosen to not have it because they offered it you for free?

That's very silly indeed.

I also don't get everyone saying they won't have the jab because they have never had the flu.

Firstly you could have had it but been asymptomatic but secondly the logic is flawed for example I presume when you all get in cars you put on a seatbelt even if you've never been in an accident so why not take the same precaution with something like flu?

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I guess those of us who haven’t had flu (or who have had it asymptomatically) don’t know how bad it feels to have it, so we have less incentive/motivation to have the vaccine. I’m not anti-vax at all- I had the Covid jabs because I was told I should. I just don’t see any reason to have this one (For me. I can see why others want to have it).

I’ll probably get the flu now and I give you permission to point and laugh at me for being so foolish while I suffer in my bed. I’ll take the chance 🤷🏼‍♀️

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 02/12/2025 18:13

OtherS · 02/12/2025 17:31

If you're eligible to get it free on the NHS then the chemist will do it free for you too, you just need to give them your details. (Or at least the ones round here will, I assume it's the same everywhere?)

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I’m eligible for a free one as I’m over 70. I get it at Tesco and there’s no problem.

RoamingToaster · 02/12/2025 18:14

I was just reading it was going around quite badly in Scotland. My child’s nursery had to postpone the nativity due to it. I haven’t had it yet but then I read that this year’s vaccine isn’t that effective as there’s been a further mutation. So I’m less motivated reading that but maybe I should as it might lessen it if I get it.