Fed up of hearing about the flu

[SpoonBaloon]

I know I’m being unreasonable but am I the only one who’s getting wound up by the constant coverage of the flu on every national news outlet?

It is December. Of course the flu is going around! Every winter we hear about the NHS being overwhelmed.

I can accept minor coverage but it’s been the main story for days on end and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop! And I know the flu kills and people need to be aware to take precautions but surely people don’t need it to be pointed out to them that they have an increased chance of catching the cold or flu in the run up to Christmas?

I was deathly ill with it last year but luckily have managed to avoid it up to now.

Hundreds of thousands excess deaths, nurses, doctors, bus drivers who gave their lives ...just spat on ...how awful.

The next flu pandemic is a source of fear for anyone with any medical / scientific expertise..millions died in the last one - the young and healthy were the most at risk..because of their strong immune response.

Appalling post, ignorance worshipped does not avoid preventable death

Most pharmacies are now out of stock which isn’t helpful

It’s newsworthy because we no longer have a functioning health system in this country. If you are unfortunate enough to need NHS A&E because you are taken seriously ill with flu, you are quite likely to find (as my terminally ill mother did last week) that the waiting area is standing room only and there is zero infection control for the immunocompromised. If you develop sepsis you will probably die before anyone checks your temperature, and you’ll still have to take your chances over 18 to 24 hours with the coughing, spluttering hordes.

Clap, clap, etc.

How else are they supposed to make people aware of the situation? 2 mins of listening to an advertisement is preferable to being hospitalised. It’s given me the kick I needed to get booked in.

It's not a bad thing to let people know it's a bad strain.

But I also think that the media have learned that ramping up peoples health anxiety makes good headlines and gets clicks.

And there are so many people now with serious health anxiety which itself puts their health at risk.

What on earth are you on about? You do realise the lab technicians report the results they receive from flu swabs. It's not something you can just make up. Why would anyone say it is covid rather than flu. The world isn't one big conspiracy theory.

Keeping people isolated indoors with an hour of mandated exercise a day will have damaged immune systems all over the country. Include wearing masks and forcing people to breathe in recycled air, and then you get a huge spike in hospitalisations.

Your immune system exists for a reason, keep it strong, exposing it to odd bugs and being under the weather for a few days quite literally never killed anyone. Go back to basics and ignore the hysterical media that so desperately wants another lockdown.

The science of covid is that it is an immune response disease and people who've had it have reduced immunity for an average of 20 months. Scientists are making and publishing these findings.
Our governments have calculated that giving it free reign is better for the economy...which doesnt mean that people aren't repeatedly unwell

I didn't get the flu jab, have an underlying condition, and am just getting over the flu.

It totally knocked me for six, I've had to cancel everything for two weeks, needed time off, and have just been able to work from home and sleep. Still exhausted. It's not just crap for the NHS, it's utterly inconvenient, so the more we talk about it the better.

Annoyingly I'd had the flu jab earlier every year before this for a decade.

This not science, it's not what Drs and virus scientists tell us. It's just ill educated musings 🤦‍♀️

You are correct. Unfortunately the current flu strain that is doing all the damage has mutated quite a bit from.when vaccine was prepared, meaning the vaccine will not be as effective as usual. I speak from having had vaccine and still ended up really floored for well over week, whereas , normally when I get vaccine I either don't catch flu or it is so mild I barely notice.

However, I believe if I hadn't been vaccinated I would gave been much worse, do still think it could be vital for frail, elderly and vulnerable people.

^ Exactly. I've worked in a very similar sector, and I find it utterly inexcusable that an NHS worker would refuse a vaccine (unless allergic).

The vaccine is 75% effective for children. Lower for adults.

I see you haven't troubled yourself to actually read the coverage.

I agree the coverage feels excessive, and you can see from some of the threads on here, it’s making some people very anxious. I’m not convinced that it’s proportionate and it’s too reminiscent of covid. I saw a commenter talking about lockdown earlier, and have seen people wearing masks. It feels like we’ve learned nothing.

Magical staff that can suddenly appear or not get sick ??? 🤦‍♀️

I've got a cold right now, haven't had one in years. I had my flu jab earlier this year because I'm pregnant, otherwise generally in good health and not considered vulnerable.

I don't need to be a scientist with a PhD to understand this, okay? Don't talk people down just because they decided to not get a degree in medicine.

Given the high numbers of flu cases and the fact that we are about to enter the biggest indoor mingling season of the year, I am not surprised there is s high level campaign to increase awareness.

Edited as misread post.

Totally. It's like covid all over again. Hugh Pym in some random hospital taking up the time of nurses/doctors who are being filmed saying how busy they are.

The whole blame narrative again. If you are ill, it's YOUR FAULT because you didn't get a vaccine, didn't wear a mask, didn't do whatever, and now you are overwhelming the NHS, you selfish fucker.

If you mean my comment, it was an online commenter I saw - on the bbc website I think, saying we should be in lockdown. I agree it would be ridiculous but was highlighting how anxious the excessive amount of coverage is making some people feel.

"The whole blame narrative again. If you are ill, it's YOUR FAULT because you didn't get a vaccine, didn't wear a mask, didn't do whatever, and now you are overwhelming the NHS, you selfish fucker."

It's okay, those same idiots who refused to let 'the unvaxxed' into their homes but then later accepted Ukrainian refugees will probably have something to say.

The narrative shifts are unbelievably funny.

I was vaxxed back in September, still got it a week ago, felt as poorly as I have since probable-Covid in January 2020, which was worse.

Make sure you are stocked up on analgesics, something to drink (coke, seven up) that will boost sugar levels and help rehydrate if you can't bear eating, and hope for the best.

I knew a previously healthy 59 year old who died after catching flu. Close family. It changed my views on it being “just flu”

I was hospitalized with H1N1 in 2019. My (then) 9 year-old asked me if I was going to die. I had no underlying health conditions.

I have had the vaccine this year. I have stepped-up hand hygiene. I am on public transport a lot - regularly getting coughed and sneezed on. Lovely. I assume better hygiene awareness amongst the general public would help - along with vaccine take-up (especially in the school-age population). Being reminded that this can be extremely an dangerous illness is not a problem from my POV.

Your post says this :

”Your immune system exists for a reason, keep it strong, exposing it to odd bugs and being under the weather for a few days quite literally never killed anyone.”

When flu pandemics have literally killed millions…it doesn’t need a Phd just basic reading….repeat exposure to viruses doesn’t strengthen immunity it causes things like……mmmm…cervical cancer …which vaccination has reduced by 80% …but your musings wouldn’t have wanted that…because let’s repeat your view: ,” Your immune system exists for a reason, keep it strong, exposing it to odd bugs and being under the weather for a few days quite literally never killed anyone.” 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️