Is the flu vaccine effective this year?

[kittensinthekitchen]

Have read of lots of people having flu. Is this being tested and diagnosed or just assumed?

I was wondering, if you've got/had flu this winter, had you been vaccinated?

Take up of the flu vaccine is usually low, other than the known high risk groups who tend to be more proactive getting it.

I've been vaccinated and have come into contact with loads of confirmed flu cases (A&E staff) and have t caught flu (yet).
So this study of 1 person suggests 100% effectiveness if the vaccine 🤣

You can still be infected after immunisation but are far less likely to be seriously affected as you have the antibodies to fight it off.
I’ve read that the dominant strain this year is ‘broadly covered’ by the current vaccine.
It’s shocked me to see that only a third of under fives have been vaccinated this year , there are 500 kids in ICU currently, also adult vaccination numbers have fallen. Pribably explains why there are more in hospital for flu than covid !

Just coming out of an illness I think may have been flu as only had Covid recently. However I don't know how to tell if it actually was flu. I did have a jab but presumably it could still be flu just not quite as bad?

Good question OP. I had the jab in October. At the start of December I felt the worst I had felt in about 10 years. Really had flu. I've heard similar stories from others, so I can't help wondering if they went with the wrong strain this year.

I had the vaccine in November and flu before Christmas. I bought an influenza LFT and it came up positive for influenza A

My dad and SIL have both been vaccinated, dad ended up in hospital last week and was diagnosed with flu. Home now but still very ill. Strangely no flu symptoms, so no coughing, sneezing, sore throat etc, but had severe back ache, was barely able to walk, then fell and totally lost the use of his legs.
SIL has all the common symptoms of flu and was very poorly for a week or so.
MIL, in hospital already, was diagnosed with flu, again with no symptoms. Very strange strain this year.

I read somewhere that the flu jab this year covers flu B but it's flu A that's showing up in hospital. Don't know how true it is thought.

Thanks everyone.

I know the vaccine doesn't cover all strains, and it's very much a 'best guess' production based on the previous year's performance (I think?), but it just seems so prevalent this year, probably a multitude of factors.

Will keep my fingers crossed to avoid it 🤞

Hope those of you (and your loved ones) suffering with it improve soon

I have a friend in Australia, she said they had an awful flu season in 2022 as well. Probably just one of those years where the dominant strain is a nasty one, combined with lower immunity after the last 2 flu seasons being curtailed by you-know-what.

I’ve been in contact with many many flu a and flu b patients the last 2/3 months. Had my flu jab in october. Haven’t had flu. But wear masks in work so 🤷‍♀️

I am pretty sure my family & I have flu currently but I missed my flu vaccine this year & my Dp & DS didn't get it either, my mum (CEV) & dad both had the vaccine so far my dad appears to have caught this flu yesterday hoping my mum doesn't or the vaccine at least protects them and they don't become as ill as I have been.