Flu jab - what they don't tell you

[bwhiskey]

I saw an older post on here from someone who had asked why she felt worse after having the flu jab, and I thought I'd write my own experience.

I had a flu jab years ago, and within ten minutes I suddenly felt very off and I passed out. I was out for several minutes. I am not afraid of needles and I'm fine when I have blood work, etc. The nurse told me I had a reaction to the jab. They advised that I not have it again.

So for years, I went without.

Only last year, I came down with the worst case of flu I've had since I can remember. I was so poorly that it spooked me.

I also take meds for a chronic condition I was diagnosed with in 2017, and those meds are known to reduce your immunity.

So, this year, I decided to have the jab again. My GP surgery were aware that I had the previous bad reaction, so after they gave me the jab they had me stay there for half an hour. I felt a bit lightheaded after around ten minutes but then it passed and I felt OK although not entirely right for the rest of that evening. I woke up in the morning feeling normal.

Weird thing though. Later that day, I was out in town and suddenly I felt faint. And this is one day after the jab... I went into a cafe and sat down for nearly an hour before I felt well enough to get up and carry on.

I've googled bad reactions to the flu jab, but have not found much at all. But I think it's important to be aware that there can be side effects to this jab, and to know what they are so you can make an informed decision as to whether or not you choose to have one.

I think the makers of these jabs have a duty to be more transparent about possible side effects, even if most people have no bad reaction.

I think you need to report the reaction to the GP surgery. I'm sure there is a form they have to fill in with the details and send off to the manufacturer or NICE or something.

Do you have a history of reacting to other vaccinations? Or just the flu?
They advise everyone to wait ten minutes (I have mine every year at a Boots pharmacy) so perhaps your reaction isn't uncommon or dangerous???

Is there a chance that your health condition or the medicine you are taking could have interacted with the vaccine in this way?

Hope you're feeling better now. Oddly enough when I get mine done at Boots they ask you to hand about for a few minutes but when DH gets his done at the doctor's they don't.

I think you need to report the reaction to the GP surgery.

^This. A significant factor in ensuring the safety and quality of medicines is the collection and analysis of customer complaints / patient feedback. Both the industry regulators and the manufacturers take this very seriously.

Most drugs have some risk of side effects and contraindications. These risks are generally well managed but data is needed to support that.

Yes. Isn’t there a ‘yellow form’ or something for reporting adverse reactions.

I don’t think it’s a question of them ‘not telling you’. Most medicines have a leaflet with a long list of possible side effects, some common and some rare. It’s about balancing the risk of whatever the medicine / vaccination is treating or preventing vs the risk of the medicine / vaccination itself.