Cystic Fibrosis Carrier and the Flu Jab

[MrsJAlfredPrufrock]

Do you get called for a flu jab if you're a cystic fibrosis carrier, and if yes, why?

I very much doubt it. AFAIK, a CF carrier wouldn't be expected to have anything actually wrong with their lungs etc, and therefore wouldn't be at greater risk of flu infection / complications.

Why do you think that they would be OP?

Yes and why not?

A carrier of the CF gene doesnt actually have CF, or any of the problems that go with it, so therefore havent got any greater need for the jab than the average healthy person!

DH's surgery sent him a letter stating he needs a flu jab. When he called to ask why they said it is because he's a CF carrier.

Ah, I see. I imagine they're a bit confused about what the term CF carrier actually means.

RecursiveMoon- A GP surgery being confused about what it means to be a CF carrier isn't filling me with optimism.

It's very odd, especially as he has never been called for flu jab before.

Unless he lives with someone who has CF

2Old No, nobody has CF in our house.

Most CF carriers don't know that they are carriers. GP would only know if there had been some genetic screening, surely?

B52s - He knows because he has been genetically tested, and his carrier status is on his medical file.

He doesn't need the flu jab. Perhaps it's not a doc/nurse that the letter came from, maybe someone in admin who doesn't know the difference between having CF or being a carrier?

I am a CF carrier and have never been told I needed the flu jab more than the average person. Like the others said I think whoever sent the letter is getting confused between having CF and being a carrier (which isnt great in a doctors surgery!!) Being a carrier doesnt cause any health problems.

He had the flu jab today anyway. He queried it with the nurse doing the injections, but she said she just did the list she was given.

This is an old thread I know, but it came up on Google search today and I just wanted to flag up that research has shown that CF carriers can suffer CF symptoms ( to a lesser degree) and so are at increased risk of respiratory diseases amongst other things, hence flu invite.