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Original poster

Flu is roaring back in India

86 replies

Kokeshi123 · 08/09/2021 03:54

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/the-flu-wave-several-people-in-different-parts-of-india-are-currently-down-with-flu-like-symptoms/articleshow/85480930.cms

Apologies if I sound like a stuck record--I know I mentioned this on another thread here. But scientists are getting really worried about what will happen as the flu comes back, which it inevitably will. India is already seeing an unseasonably early outbreak. The world is likely to have unusually low immunity levels because the flu was almost absent last year; normally, the virus buzzes around and we all get exposed a little bit, even if we didn't actually "come down with" the flu. People who did not get the vax last year will have low immunity levels. This is likely to mean increased severity, and possibly an outbreak earlier than the usual flu season.

All countries need to start getting their act together now: get the flu jabs up and running ASAPeven countries in the southern hemisphere. And I'd urge everyone here to get the flu jab and encourage everyone they know to do the same, as soon as it's availableeven people who wouldn't normally get the vaccine.

I'm actually more nervous about this than about COVID right now.

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 08/09/2021 08:18

Obviously those who have had the vaccination recently don't need it again!

HungryHippo11 · 08/09/2021 08:20

The jabs are irrelevant. Our immune systems are shot because we've been social distancing etc, so they've not met enough bugs. Particularly concerning in small children - we've now got kids coming up to 2 years old who may not have been exposed to much illness at all, ever. That is not a good thing.

My daughter is 18 months and this is my concern. Luckily my older daughter went to preschool some of last year so they've been exposed to a few bugs - they have both had covid - but not as many as usual. She's still breastfeeding so hopefully that might confer some immunity.

SoloISland · 08/09/2021 08:21

Interesting. I was told that there was little if any flu due to social distancing and mask wearing.
Which does make more sense than any other idea here; and gives the way ahead also for a safe winter.

Wear masks.

I have CFS.ME and am not safe to get vaccines as my immune system is awol. Bad reaction to one I had years ago.
But I live isolation happily .

whatswithtodaytoday · 08/09/2021 08:25

@SoloISland

Interesting. I was told that there was little if any flu due to social distancing and mask wearing. Which does make more sense than any other idea here; and gives the way ahead also for a safe winter.

Wear masks.

I have CFS.ME and am not safe to get vaccines as my immune system is awol. Bad reaction to one I had years ago.
But I live isolation happily .

There wasn't any flu while we were all wearing masks and social distancing. Now restrictions have been lifted, it's coming back very strongly.

Dreamstate · 08/09/2021 08:26

Thanks to masks and lockdowns I wasn't exposed to pollen throughout the year, then lockdown was eased as pollen season came into full effect. I couldn't even go outside thats how hyper sensitive I had become, the moment I'd step outside on even moderate pollen days id be instantly sneezing, eyes stinging.

I have never ever experienced this, even on high pollen count days my prescription tablets worked but this yr they didn't. I was having to take 2 or 3 tablets a day just to calm it down.

Its 2 weeks of being outside alot, reducing mask usage for my immune system to adapt.

That was a huge wake up call for me about how its important to expose ourselves to things because our immune system in most cases can cope

TheKeatingFive · 08/09/2021 08:35

Which does make more sense than any other idea here; and gives the way ahead also for a safe winter.

No, quite the opposite

Rangoon · 08/09/2021 08:57

I'm in the Southern Hemisphere. We have flu jabs around March/April. I won't be getting another flu jab because we are going into summer. As for our slow roll out (in NZ) I am happy to say that I am double jabbed for covid, my husband is about to get his second jab, and my twenty year old son has had his first. My eldest is a med student and I assume is now fully vaccinated.

isthismylifenow · 08/09/2021 09:07

@alwayscrashinginthesamecar1

I'm in the Southern Hemisphere and got my flu jab in March which is Autumn here. Why would I need another now it is spring?

Yeah, me too, not sure why the OP thinks otherwise.

And in any case, if it is not available, we cannot just magic one up.

worrybutterfly · 08/09/2021 09:16

I've managed to book in to have mine done in Boots in 10days time.

I couldn't get an appointment in the 3 closest stories, but managed to book in a larger store that's a 30min drive away.

wheresmymojo · 08/09/2021 09:34

@UsedUpUsername

In a way, we’ll now know what strains will circulate looking at India. Before I was suspicious they’d get the right estimates (or rather, a close enough one)

It's too late now though...they usually choose the strain in March/April based on Australia but Australia didn't have a flu season this year.

Porridgealert · 08/09/2021 09:41

Round us GPS are cancelling and saying they don't know when stock will be available. The firm involved and Dept of Health are saying a delay of less than 2 weeks.

Marguerite2000 · 08/09/2021 09:44

Poor India. They're really up against it.
As for the UK, I can see masks and a certain amount of social distancing being mandated again over the winter again.

Dreamstate · 08/09/2021 09:59

@Marguerite2000

Poor India. They're really up against it. As for the UK, I can see masks and a certain amount of social distancing being mandated again over the winter again.

considering how much konwybtjey get they really wouldn't be if they actually used the ones correctly, but hey joining the space race is more important than providing better care for their citizens and better living standards

ClaudiaWankleman · 08/09/2021 10:08

Regardless of what that word was meant to be - yes, we get it. You want India to know their place and stay there.

Why does no one ever make the same point about the USA or the UK?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 08/09/2021 10:14

I can't get an appointment at my gp surgery, nor at the local pharmacies at present.

Delatron · 08/09/2021 10:14

It is a big worry and another massive impact of shutting ourselves away.

Not sure what can be done though. Hope supply issues get sorted and get as many people vaccinated.

I’m more worried about flu than Covid this winter.

bluetongue · 08/09/2021 10:20

Here in South Australia the state government have brought in mask mandates with no Covid in the community. High school students are meant to wear them all day at school. Apparently it’s the ‘health advice’. Seems more like political butt covering to me.

I pretty much only wear one where I absolutely have to. It’s completely bonkers.

SheWoreYellow · 08/09/2021 10:34

@dementedpixie

Our secondary school in Scotland are now going to be offering nasal flu vaccine for the 1st time this year. Previously it was only primary age children who got it

And we’re going down to the over 50s too.

Realyorkshiretea · 08/09/2021 10:37

On a related side note has anyone else had the AWFUL summer Black Death cold that’s going round at the moment?

I’ve had plenty of colds before, but this was something else! Chills, streaming eyes and nose, sinuses practically swollen shut, lasted for weeks - just awful. 2 months later and I’m still not 100% myself.

FreddyMercurysCat · 08/09/2021 10:38

I've just managed to book an appointment for 28th Sept at Boots. I'm hoping it's not cancelled.

I have a 2-year-old starting nursery and I'm off to uni as a mature student, flu and norovirus is something I’d like to avoid.

whatswithtodaytoday · 08/09/2021 10:39

@Realyorkshiretea

On a related side note has anyone else had the AWFUL summer Black Death cold that’s going round at the moment?

That sounds very like Covid to me!

UnmentionedElephantDildo · 08/09/2021 10:41

Goodness only knows how they made predictions for which strains to include in the flu jab this time round. Usually it's based on what circulated in the Southern Hemisphere the season before - as they need so long in development and manufacture (that means summer 2020 for our A/W 2021) and of course levels were so low, can they be as confident as usual?

Lostinacloud · 08/09/2021 10:41

I read that the return of the flu in India demonstrates that covid in now endemic so in some ways it’s almost a good thing to signal the end of the pandemic. Last year covid was the most virulent seasonal respiratory virus and this year, in India at least, perhaps flu is taking over as most virulent.

Realyorkshiretea · 08/09/2021 10:41

@whatswithtodaytoday do you think? I did a PCR and a few lateral flows, all negative. I was convinced I had it - it didn’t feel like anything I had had before, and I’m still fatigued weeks later. Can you be covid positive and receive negative test results?

Zilla1 · 08/09/2021 10:43

At our practice in England, our delivery was postponed this week by at least 1 -2 weeks with an indication we'll get a week's notice of a 'firm' delivery. We booked appointments ten days after the original delivery date so have a little leeway before we cancel the appointments. As we currently are promised only having a week's notice of a firm delivery date so might not be able to rebook immediately to give patients a firm appointment.

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