Flu jab extended to the over 50s

[whatisforteamum]

I am really pleased about this.!
Tbh years ago I was entitled to it as I have asthma.As I didn't even really get colds or anything I didn't have it(silly I know).Then last Nov I got a chest infection.and sore throat that left me breathless and a bit scared.When I enquired I was told as I no longer have my steroid inhaler I wasn't entitled.
I know I could just pay for it.I am just glad it is being rolled out to more people.Anyone else pleased about this?

Surely all the measures being taken to reduce transmission of covid will will also reduce the transmission of influenza?
Anyone with active respiratory symptoms will be given a very wide berth whereas PC (pre covid) people just put up with it

hopefully Boris
Don't hold your breath.... we all know he doesn't think anything through and his team of incompetent yes persons do not have the smarts to be taking up any of the slack🤦‍♀️

@ElsieBeard

I heard someone on the news saying flu jabs are ordered in January. ....its unlikely then there would be enough.

By March it was blindingly obvious that an enhanced flu vaccination programme would be needed so I’d hope additional orders were placed by PHE.

I thought I rea d somewhere that the vaccinations would start earlier.Perhaps this was in another country.I will make sure I get one anyway even if I pay as I am almost 54 and dont.want whatever I had last winter again.

DP and I both qualify for a free flu jab.

Last year our GP surgery simply could not cope. The batches of vaccine released to them were too small and too infrequent. They had shortage after shortage. We couldn't get appointments. Neither could DSD who is a HCSW.

So we all booked at a pharmacy. They have forms you fill in to say if and how you're exempt from the charge.

The pharmacist was lovely, the appointment was on time, and the paperwork fairly simple.

I'm assuming that pharmacists will be expected to do significantly more vaccinations this year.

But if the government still isn't releasing he first batch of vaccine till September, for October, it's going to be a case of too little too late again.

DH and I will look forward to getting ours in about March then, if at all

Flu clinic will be interesting. At my local surgery it's usually standing room only with bookings a minute apart. Every clinical staff member roped in to jab people.
I'm imagining a long line snaking right round the village.

I have to pay for a flu jab. I've had them done in both Sainsbury's and Tesco pharmacy, where they have both asked if I'm exempt - I'm not, but apparently they get referrals from local GP practices.

I hope they include homeless and insecurely housed people on the list.
Overcrowded or shared housing seems to be a major risk factor. I think they're usually eligible but I'm not certain.

I wonder what happened in Australia? They'll have already had their flu vaccines by now presumably. I don't know who usually gets it there.

Practice nurse here. Great idea but massive massive headache for us. We are so far behind with our routine work already. Social distancing rules will make this doubly difficult.

I suppose Australia has a much smaller population so it's a more manageable workload for HCP?

@SheepandCow
Those factors are a risk for being more likely to get the virus but not for it being more severe if they do get it. The flu vaccination programme is aimed at those who are likely to get it more severely so is targeting a different type of risk.

The published information including from the ONS states these are risk factors for being at increased risk of serious illness or death. Likely because being homeless or living in overcrowded shared housing negatively impacts on the health.

I'll have a look later for the figures I read yesterday. It's something like double the risk of death for people in deprived urban areas.

@SheepandCow I read somewhere that the incidence of flu in Australia was far below normal this year. Be interesting to know whether they had expanded their vaccine programme or whether it was the impact of SD.

I worry they won't have enough, like last year. I have one every year due to being in the 'vulnerable' group, but got it done at Boots in the end as my GP surgery had none and it was getting toward end October.

I am under 50, but in a group that supposedly could be very ill from flu or C19 so wouldn't want to wait too long.

Thinking about it as one of those who usually pays for a jab, if there are none available to buy then is means there are far more people in the population vaccinated so it reduces the chances of flu for everyone including me.

I pay for one every year, I was hospitalised with sepsis from flu and had some horrific side effects that lasted a year when I was 35.

Flu jabs are basically my life from September onwards 😁 but there are serious concerns already about how on earth we are meant to manage the increased demand, social distancing, record keeping and additional cleaning that is being expected. The last few years have been a disaster for supply and I don’t see that changing. A significant number of batches have already failed quality control that were due out for the first wave. There is no central plan, individual surgeries, pharmacies and companies are just making this up as they go along at the moment. Orders were placed back in January so I have no idea what else might be needed. I’ve been asked to work out my own risk assessment and take it from there once supplies arrive. Surprise, surprise...

I would suggest keeping an eye on when things roll out, usually by the middle of September in pharmacy, and make sure you register your interest. My store has a list already, so as soon as we get supply and trained staff we’re good to go and will phone people to make appointments.
If you qualify for an NHS jab you can have it done in the pharmacy no matter what arrangements your GP normally makes, just fill in the appropriate form. We have different forms for paid and exempt patients.
At present we’ve had no information on phases or distinguishing between groups of patients. I’m fully expecting it to be carnage tbh.
Happy to try and answer any other questions if I can!