Should I have the flu jab?

[frogspoon]

I have recently started a new job in a partially boarding school, and have just been offered the chance to have a flu jab.

I'm not sure whether to have it or not.

I've never actually had the flu (although I have had many other coughs/ colds/ tonsillitis etc), and I've never had a flu jab before. However I do realise that I probably am at considerably higher risk of getting it when working in a boarding school.

I don't have asthma or any other medical conditions that would make flu more serious. I also don't have any contraindications to having the vaccine (e.g. egg allergy)

I know that it only protects against three particular strains of flu, so if I got any other strain, or any other virus I wouldn't be protected.

I am very much in favour of vaccines that protect against very serious and possibly deadly diseases, however for a normal healthy person, whilst very unpleasant, the flu shouldn't be life threatening.

Yes you should, because you are working in a boarding school. Flu is highly contagious and passes very quickly around closed or semi-closed communities. Therefore although you may not need the flu jab for yourself, you may be protecting at risk individuals in the school by increasing herd immunity. It must be awful when bugs such as flu are passed around in a boarding school, for both the children and the staff. If flu can be prevented, or at least the risk reduced, then why not?

That's my not particularly informed take on it, anyway.

I have a flu jab every year. i have no side effects and stay flue free.

Yes. Same reasons. Also, true flu is a really serious and unpleasant illness. You don't want it.

Therefore although you may not need the flu jab for yourself, you may be protecting at risk individuals in the school by increasing herd immunity.

Thanks you have made a really good point.

Think I will have to have the jab.

I was going to post the same question. My employer offers everyone the flu jab, it is an office based job. I have always declined but am swithering this year. I have two Dc aged 15mo and 3yr (the eldest has,been offered flu vaccine spray and will have it).

Should i have it? Havent had flu for years but that doesn't mean this year i wont. Am really undecided. If I décline and do get the flu and am off sick can my employées get shirty given that they offered the flu jab?

My dh and I pay for it every year. The flu is awful and if it can be prevented it should be. My dd will be having the inhaler version this year too. I'm from Canada and over there everybody gets the vaccine for free. Unless you have an allergy or for medical reasons can't have it Id say go for it.

I'm going to have it for the first time this year. I have 2 young DC's and caught the flu in March this year. Luckily I got it on a weekend and spent all that time in bed and struggled through the next week feeling dreadful. Once the worst symptoms were over I was SO fatigued, for up to 3 weeks afterwards. I'm now working P/T in a school so I've got a prescription from the Dr (which I'll pay for) and have it in my local surgery. I believe the big pharmacies offer it too - costs £10.

I'm not a particularly unhealthy person but I have had proper flu 3 times before (once at school and twice in my 20's) so maybe I'm succeptible? I don't want it again!

Think i will go for it ....