We had flu in January, how likely are we to get it again?

[Bagforlifenotchristmas]

It was awful. We were laid up for over a week. No appetite, fever, aches etc and my DS ended up with a chest infection that needed antibiotics, never seen him so ill. Extremely lethargic.

Will that give us some immunity from the current strain? Or not likely?

Don't know OP but I'm going to watch your thread because I want to know too!

It’s a new season now isn’t it? Vaccines are rolled out from September, so I’d assume not terribly well. I’ve always bought the jab since being knocked down with it 6 years ago.

I had flu that wiped me out for over three weeks and I remember asking the same question. I’m sure a doctor told me if could come back at anytime but I didn’t get unwell again for a long time.

Flu jab is your only protection, either that or total seclusion from the general public and everyone (unlikely).

I wish I had but I have left it too late now, none of the pharmacies near me have anything left, I live in a small rural village.

I was just curious if we’d get some immunity from previous exposure I guess.

It won’t make any difference either way.

DH had it over Christmas last year - really badly, bedridden into January - fit 50 year old. I got it but mildly and I'd had the jab. We both had the jab this year at end of October. And both got the flu again last month. Again he was much worse but we've both been wiped out by it - just glad I got the jab as even though it's not quite the right jab this year it probably took the edge off.

Anyway it's a different strain of flu to last year so the likelihood of you having any significant immunity is small. I'd get the jab if you haven't already.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-15373921/Warning-people-die-militant-doctors-set-walkout-FIVE-days-amid-surge-mutant-flu-seen-surgeries-cancelled-hospitals-ban-visitors-schools-closed.html

sorry, Daily Mail link....and a bit alarmist probably...

I thought the current flu jabs are based on the previous years flu strain, so offer some protection as the strain will have changed but not evolved completely into something completely different. As I understand it this years strain has made more than the expected changes and is a slightly different variant as well so the flu vaccine offered is less effective than it would normally be expected to be.

I don’t actually take a flu vaccine, though I take everything else on offer and give thanks for it. I have some primitive, illogical belief that I have a natural immunity since I haven’t had flu since 1973 ( don’t ask how I remember, but I do) . I will be masking up on public transport and in shops, and using hand sanitisers and hand washing as we did for Covid.

DS and I currently have influenza A- got a test from Amazon. I had the flu jab in September but DS only got his last week as he gets it at school and the school nursing team are slow with the roll out.
I think DH and I had flu in February but didn’t test then…
Feel pretty terrible but think unlikely to need medical attention which I guess is the point of the jab.

My point is if you may get it if exposed… but not definitely. Whether you are exposed or not probably depends on how many people you come into contact with. I know ours as come via school from DS.

The amount of interactions you have with other people will be a bigger factor than the fact you had flu in January.. It sounds live the strain this year is particularly virulent. All you can do is to take reasonable precautions.

Surwly it's the same chance as last year because it mutates each year.