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Original poster

Flu Jab?

48 replies

MilkTrayLimeBarrel · 01/11/2019 08:06

Went to my local Pharmacy yesterday and the assistant pushed me to make an appointment for a flu jab. I have been considering having one this year as the predicted strain is really nasty, but am still put off by the bad publicity (and I hate injections!). What would people advise? Have you had one this year and how did you feel afterwards?

OP posts:
queenrollo · 01/11/2019 08:11

Had mine on Tuesday. Didn't feel the jab at all (the pharmacist had bloody cold hands, I thought she was faffing about when she held my arm and 'nothing' happened)
About two hours later I felt like I had been punched in the arm, but no mark or bruising.
No side effects at all.

Notthebradybunch · 01/11/2019 08:14

I had mine a couple of weeks ago, it was fine, arm a bit sore afterwards for a couple of days but other than that nothing, they won't give it to you if you have a temperature on the day, they say you might get some cold symptoms after but that should be gone within 48 hours, but as I said I didn't get anything like that, I've had the flu before and I don't want it again so I get the jab every year!

dementedpixie · 01/11/2019 08:17

Dh had his the other day. No after effects reported

666onmyhead · 01/11/2019 08:36

I have one every year, the under 65 version is in short supply this year, so you will probably have to book.
I've had no after effects after mine on Tuesday .

bellinisurge · 01/11/2019 09:05

Had one at end of September. I have MS so I get one free. At the risk of sounding like a Monty Python sketch- 'it's but a scratch (barely that to be honest).

Oldmum55 · 01/11/2019 09:43

Does anybody feel like the flu jab police is around? If you decline for your own reasons you are made to feel selfish because other vulnerable people will get flu because of you!

Palmysterious · 01/11/2019 09:53

Me and DH had ours at Boots last week. The under 65 version. Next day, I had a reaction at the jab site, hot, red and itchy, but not painful, which lasted a couple of days. DH was fine.

Runmybathforme · 01/11/2019 09:59

Why wouldn’t you have it ? What are your concerns ? ‘Flu is a horrible illness, if you get it, you can be ill for months. There are no side effects to speak of, the vaccine doesn’t fully kick in for some weeks, people already ‘ brewing ‘ a virus frequently blame their subsequent illness on the vaccine. Don’t underestimate the horrible effects of ‘flu.

Laniakea · 01/11/2019 10:54

Dd (18), dh & I all had it on Wednesday. I’ve had no reaction at all (hope it has worked!), Dd has a bit of redness at the injection site (size of a 50p) but feels fine, dh woke up on Thursday feeling a bit grotty & achy. He was fine to go to work though & is back to normal today. I believe 1 in 10 people react as he did.

AFistfulofDolores1 · 01/11/2019 11:25

Does anybody feel like the flu jab police is around?

I've not felt that at all, @Oldmum55. Other vaccines, yes, but this one has always, to me, felt entirely personally preventative.

zonkin · 01/11/2019 11:29

I had flu six years ago and it was awful. I get the vaccine every year now. I never want to feel like that again. The vaccination itself is barely a scratch.

Georgiemcgeorgeface · 01/11/2019 11:32

I had it a few weeks ago. No effects other than a sore muscle for a day. I've had the flu and it's bloody horrendous so I've paid for the jab ever since.

randomsabreuse · 01/11/2019 11:34

Had mine because I cba with getting flu. DD is in reception and brings home all the bugs anyway. Also don't want to spread flu to DS who is 1 and has had a cough/cold since the 2nd week of term. DH is trying to organise himself one.

Would be less pissed off if one of us does get ill if we've taken all reasonable precautions - I thought DD had got flu last year and felt guilty I hadn't sorted out the spray (DS being born got in the way!) - as it was it was only an ear infection...

In the same vein both kids will be having the chicken pox vacc once DS has got his 1 year old jabs out the way - don't need the unnecessary time off work if I ever find a job that fits around DH's.

cloudydaysinautumn · 01/11/2019 11:35

Ive had one for about the last 5 years.

The injection itself hurts a bit and it makes my arm sore for a day or so, but no side affects other than that.

For the last 2 years I've had the jab and then gone to work for a 12 hour shift in frontline healthcare with no ill effects.

ClientListQueen · 01/11/2019 11:35

I'm immunocompromised and had it. V sore arm for a few days and that's it

chocolatelover9 · 01/11/2019 11:38

I had mine last week. Arm was a bit sore for a day or 2 afterwards but had to symptoms the nurse said I would such as a cold and feeling groggy. Was totally fine. I have one every year due to my job being a carer. I hate needles as well but didnt really feel it :)

yellowallpaper · 01/11/2019 15:46

Jab didn't hurt, but arm was a bit sore for a couple of days. Felt offish, but the youngun had a cold and I felt I was fighting that off. He loves to share.

housemdwaswrong · 02/11/2019 02:53

@oldmum55 not the flu vaccine no! If you have the flu there is no way you will be trotting around tesco to pass it on to others like you could do with chickenpox etc.

If you live with/ care for someone that is vulnerable in any way, that's different, obviously. But generally, no. I'm immunosupressed so I get it anyway, so those who could suffer severe complications from it are usually protected I'd have thought.

Op, I take azathioprine so my immune system is on the floor, but I had an achy arm for a day and that's it.

ThatLibraryMiss · 02/11/2019 03:05

Asda is cheapest at only £7.

RageAgainstTheVendingMachine · 02/11/2019 03:22

Had mine at Tesco for 9 quid. Because I cannot afford to get sick (am aware flu viruses mutate but I was very very ill last January).
I had a headache and felt body/muscular ache for 2 days then was fine. Still preferable than being ill for 4 weeks which I was last year, especially as I am a lone parent now so a no-brainer really.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 02/11/2019 21:51

I had it a fortnight ago in Boots - we usually get it free at work, but no sign this year. I felt fine afterwards, but my arm was sore and felt “heavy” for a few days - I really noticed it when washing and drying my hair!

I hate injections, so I was in a bit of a tizz before I went. But the thought of flu made me push through. I had it when Swine Flu was on the go, and was so, so unwell.

nocoolnamesleft · 02/11/2019 21:54

I'm first in the queue. Last time I caught flu I ended up with pulmonary and pleural scarring (ie one of my lungs is a bit fucked).

AuntieStella · 02/11/2019 21:54

Jab itself was painless.

Jab site was a bit swollen for about 36 hours (annoying when trying to get comfy to sleep, but not really noticeable much aside from that). No other side effects

NannyR · 02/11/2019 21:56

I had mine in Sept - I have one every year and have never had any side effects (beyond a sore arm).
I've not been aware of any bad publicity surrounding it and the injection itself is practically painless - it's a tiny needle.

RamsayBoltonsConscience · 02/11/2019 22:04

I've had mine - under 65, I'm a teacher and work with the 'super spreaders' i.e. children! My arm was a bit sore on the injection site for a day or so and I was a bit sniffy for a couple of days but other than that there were no side effects. I'd rather have the jab than the flu, as last time I got that, I just wanted to curl up in a ball and die!