To be nervous about this flu going around?

Cath2987 · 2025-12-09T11:03:03+00:00

I am four weeks postpartum with a newborn. I have been seeing a lot of info about this new flu strain circulating. I also have a two year old (not in nursery) and mild fully controlled asthma. I have a lunch with some mum friends booked next week where I was meant to bring along baby. I’m now having second thoughts about going as my area seems to be experiencing a flu surge - GP has sent a message to all patients about it. Would you go to the lunch if you were me? Toddler is vaccinated (spray) however I only got my vaccine Friday ( 4 days ago). AIBU to be a little nervous about this flu circulating or is it just the usual? I don’t tend to get the flu often - however I am sleep deprived right now!

JacquesHarlow · 09/12/2025 11:05

Focus on the things you can control.

rainbowunicorn · 09/12/2025 11:10

It is flu. It happens every winter. This year it is a bit earlier than normal which is putting pressure on hospitals which bit s why we are seeing so much in the media. The media will also be blowing it out of all proportion as tbey do with everything. Check in with your friends the day before that nobody is unwell. Keep newborn with you/ in pram and dont pass them about etc. By next week your jab will have kicked and and will be providing decent protection. I wouldn't be overly worried.

Nutmuncher · 09/12/2025 11:12

Go to the lunch. You’ll be perfectly fine.

Gettingbysomehow · 09/12/2025 11:18

I have it at the moment. So does ny Dsis and 3 year old. Its not pleasant but highly unlikely you'll get it if you are all at home.

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 09/12/2025 11:20

Nutmuncher · 09/12/2025 11:12

Go to the lunch. You’ll be perfectly fine.

How can you possibly know she'll be perfectly fine?

OP, I think you have to take risks. You can't never go out again in the winter. Unless you literally stay in and see no-one at all it's not something you can control.

I went to an event and had great fun but got an absolutely vile cold whilst there ( I know because I hadn't been out anywhere else, not even the shop)

I feel.like shit and its putting a weekend away for my friends birthday at risk as it seems to be dragging on. So yes, I wish I hadn't gone to the event but I could get a cold (or flu) anywhere at any time.

Original poster

Cath2987 · 09/12/2025 11:26

rainbowunicorn · 09/12/2025 11:10

It is flu. It happens every winter. This year it is a bit earlier than normal which is putting pressure on hospitals which bit s why we are seeing so much in the media. The media will also be blowing it out of all proportion as tbey do with everything. Check in with your friends the day before that nobody is unwell. Keep newborn with you/ in pram and dont pass them about etc. By next week your jab will have kicked and and will be providing decent protection. I wouldn't be overly worried.

Yes, will check in to make sure everyone feels ok due to baby being so young. I will be 10 days post jab by then so would hope it’s giving me at least some protection at that point. Had a quick google earlier and apparently it’s 14 days for ‘full protection’

OP posts:

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 09/12/2025 11:26

I would try and revive everything we did during Corona. Frequent hand washing, try not to touch your face. But with 2 small children you really do need adult company from time to time!

Xmasdemon · 09/12/2025 11:29

I don't think you should go out. You can maybe avoid catching it this winter

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 09/12/2025 11:31

I do think the papers like to scare everyone every winter. Try and take appropriate precautions if you can and otherwise you will have to keep everything crossed it stays away from your house. Both my kids have had their vaccinations, my partner and I don’t qualify. That’s all we can do really.

DappledThings · 09/12/2025 11:32

MN is the only place I've seen any talk about flu at all and any mention of there being a particularly virulent strain this winter. I don't know anybody who has had flu this year and hardly anyone in previous years.

No mention of it on any other social media or the news either that I've seen

justabitfedupofitall · 09/12/2025 11:33

Is this some sort of stealth post from the government in order to soft launch pandemic measures? It’s flu. It’s not that concerning.

Xmasdemon · 09/12/2025 11:35

Covid isn't that concerning either, it's just that when too many people get it all at once it's a problem, @justabitfedupofitall

FunnyOrca · 09/12/2025 11:44

“It’s just the flu” sure some people get it mildly, but OP’s baby is 4 weeks old!

OP, I would probably go but would keep baby in the sling and just say maybe next time to anyone that asks to hold her.

Did you have the vaccine during pregnancy too? That should afford baby some protection, but I still wouldn’t be passing her around at a lunch.

gamerchick · 09/12/2025 11:48

Tbh if I didn't have a newborn then maybe but not with a tiny baby. It's not worth it. Not so much the baby catching it, but caring for the baby with flu. No thankyou.

scalt · 09/12/2025 11:53

What the papers say most years:
2024: worst winter ever.
2023: NHS winter crisis.
2022: Beds emergency in NHS.
2021; flu emergency.
2020: normalish by Christmas.
Take your pick.

time4anothername · 09/12/2025 11:55

DappledThings · 09/12/2025 11:32

MN is the only place I've seen any talk about flu at all and any mention of there being a particularly virulent strain this winter. I don't know anybody who has had flu this year and hardly anyone in previous years.

No mention of it on any other social media or the news either that I've seen

Really? Not saying this to be argumentative but I watch the TV news on several channels and have a couple of online paper subscriptions and there is mass reporting of it from what I've seen. A virulent strain of H3N2, flu type A that mutated in the summer after the vaccine was formulated (therefore reducing its effectiveness).

Rates of hospitalisation in the over 85s are at high level more often seen after Xmas socialising. No one knows yet if we have an early peak and this will subside sooner too (let's hope so!) or if it will go on.

OP - I don't think GP surgeries send out texts for nothing, it costs them money. I would ask if anyone has a bug and not go if they do as I wouldn't want to risk a very ill baby over Christmas with the doctors strike coming up too (Dec 17 to 22nd).

Faceonthewrongfoot · 09/12/2025 11:59

I thought they tended to give the flu jab to women when they're pregnant so that some of the immunity passes to the baby? Or is that not the case anymore (I'm sure I remember being told by the midwife to book in and get it when I was a certain number of weeks. Admittedly this was over 10 years ago!).

Anyway, I wouldn't panic about it, but I think I'd be more inclined to make sure everyone I was meeting with was feeling well, and perhaps avoid handing the baby round for cuddles etc.

DappledThings · 09/12/2025 12:01

time4anothername · 09/12/2025 11:55

Really? Not saying this to be argumentative but I watch the TV news on several channels and have a couple of online paper subscriptions and there is mass reporting of it from what I've seen. A virulent strain of H3N2, flu type A that mutated in the summer after the vaccine was formulated (therefore reducing its effectiveness).

Rates of hospitalisation in the over 85s are at high level more often seen after Xmas socialising. No one knows yet if we have an early peak and this will subside sooner too (let's hope so!) or if it will go on.

OP - I don't think GP surgeries send out texts for nothing, it costs them money. I would ask if anyone has a bug and not go if they do as I wouldn't want to risk a very ill baby over Christmas with the doctors strike coming up too (Dec 17 to 22nd).

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It may have been mentioned on the jews and I just didn't pick up on it. I've certainly not heard anyone mention it in real life or on Facebook which is the only other SM I'm on.

DH's job is directly impacted by the strain on hospitals in winter and he hasn't mentioned it being a winter they have specific additional worries to the usual.

didgeridid · 09/12/2025 12:05

I should say just check with everyone that they are feeling good before going so baby is less likely to catch anything. You'd like to think anyone poorly would drop anyway!
Though id say you have more chance catch germs from toddler or snotty Susan in the queue behind you.
Even if you do catch it, it's unlikely to be serious. Enjoy your lunch ☺️

HoneyParsnipSoup · 09/12/2025 12:07

Buy super strength vitamin C, diarolyte, crisps and isotonic drinks and get the flu shot if you can.

BurntBroccoli · 09/12/2025 12:09

DappledThings · 09/12/2025 11:32

MN is the only place I've seen any talk about flu at all and any mention of there being a particularly virulent strain this winter. I don't know anybody who has had flu this year and hardly anyone in previous years.

No mention of it on any other social media or the news either that I've seen

It’s been reported in the Guardian. This year it’s a particularly virulent form.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/04/flu-patients-nhs-england-hospital-up-56-per-cent-on-a-year-ago

NHS braces for ‘unprecedented flu wave’ as hospitalised cases in England rise

Average of 1,717 flu patients in beds last week, up 56% on a year ago, after ‘unusually early’ start to season

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/04/flu-patients-nhs-england-hospital-up-56-per-cent-on-a-year-ago

BurntBroccoli · 09/12/2025 12:10

HoneyParsnipSoup · 09/12/2025 12:07

Buy super strength vitamin C, diarolyte, crisps and isotonic drinks and get the flu shot if you can.

I’m eating tangerines and satsumas to up my levels!

PinkElephants356 · 09/12/2025 14:39

time4anothername · 09/12/2025 11:55

Really? Not saying this to be argumentative but I watch the TV news on several channels and have a couple of online paper subscriptions and there is mass reporting of it from what I've seen. A virulent strain of H3N2, flu type A that mutated in the summer after the vaccine was formulated (therefore reducing its effectiveness).

Rates of hospitalisation in the over 85s are at high level more often seen after Xmas socialising. No one knows yet if we have an early peak and this will subside sooner too (let's hope so!) or if it will go on.

OP - I don't think GP surgeries send out texts for nothing, it costs them money. I would ask if anyone has a bug and not go if they do as I wouldn't want to risk a very ill baby over Christmas with the doctors strike coming up too (Dec 17 to 22nd).

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Is that so?

I was hoping the flu jab would help protect me this winter. I know there’s only about 7 strains of flu in it so it can’t possibly protect me from the millions of different variants out there but I was hoping it would help against the main ones that are circulating this year (I think that’s how they choose what goes in it anyway?).

time4anothername · 09/12/2025 17:28

PinkElephants356 · 09/12/2025 14:39

Is that so?

I was hoping the flu jab would help protect me this winter. I know there’s only about 7 strains of flu in it so it can’t possibly protect me from the millions of different variants out there but I was hoping it would help against the main ones that are circulating this year (I think that’s how they choose what goes in it anyway?).

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it is still offering protection but not as well as some years from my understanding https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41267661/ "Early influenza virus characterisation and vaccine effectiveness in England in autumn 2025, a period dominated by influenza A(H3N2) subclade K"

PinkElephants356 · 09/12/2025 19:37

time4anothername · 09/12/2025 17:28

it is still offering protection but not as well as some years from my understanding https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41267661/ "Early influenza virus characterisation and vaccine effectiveness in England in autumn 2025, a period dominated by influenza A(H3N2) subclade K"

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Thanks very much!

It’s the first winter I’ve decided to take the free flu jab that they always offer me every year and I’m hoping that it’s worth it.