Flu admissions surge by 70 percent

[thumpe100]

I would advise anyone who hasn't had a jab, PLEASE do so.

I got my jab back in October, as they give it out free as I work in education.

Last weekend after attending a flurry of kids birthday parties, and events I came down with flu. Friday I came home from work and felt wiped out, Sat it started.

All the classic flu symptoms, aches, runny nose and cough, headaches, I called my GP and got a telephone consulation, she explained the vaccine should mean I have a milder version if its flu.

Today is the first day I feel like getting out bed, that I can even read or watch TV, the last 5 days have been a blur, partner has it now and flat out ( no vaccine).

Just to warn people, the strain around at the moment is HORRIBLE, I wouldn't wish it on anyone, and I was vaccinated.

If you're under 65 , or you don't have any underlined health conditions it still horrificly bad, if what I've experienced this week is the " mild version " , due to being jabbed !!!

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/tidal-wave-of-flu-hits-hospitals-in-england-as-admissions-surge-by-70-per-cent/

You think the only reason I don't get flu is luck?
60 years of luck?
I disagree, some people are just not prone to getting certain viruses.

Do you have the evidence to share that the flu jab doesn’t work and is pointless/harmfylul?

I had no idea you can still get wiped out by flu with a vaccine.

The flu vaccine isn't a catch all, unfortunately. It's a best guess every year and protects against what are predicted to be the most virulent strains. Some years, this works better than others. When they get it wrong, hospitalisations and deaths are generally much higher. There have been a number of notable years when this has happened.

Regardless, better to be protected against some strains than none at all.

No of course I don't, and I'm not trying to persuade anyone of that. Just stating my opinion. I've only got local anecdotal evidence to go on- of a wide range of ages and vulnerability levels- and that's my own personal conclusion that works for me. What other people believe and do is entirely upto them and I can't get worked up over what other people choose to do.

If you thought you were dying from your strain it doesn’t sound like the jab did much of anything. Unless your partner is now in intensive case sounds like you got it equally bad.

I don't think the flu jab is pointless, if your health isn't very robust and you are prone to becoming ill with flu then you're probably better off having it.
I'm in good health, I don't get flu and my view is that I'm better off not having it.

Exactly. All I hear from vaccinated people is how ill they've been but had they hadn't had the vaccine they would have been EVEN ILLER when all the unvaxxed people I know either didn't get ill at all or had nothing any worse. So what's the point?!

I've had the flu jab for years and have never had flu since, or had any reaction, other than a sore arm, to the jab. Hopefully if anyone is umming and ahhing that might persuade them.
I have just had covid again. Only had 3 jabs but this time was much milder than before.
I don't understand why eligible people wouldn't get a thoroughly tested jab rather than an unpleasant illness that could put them in hospital!

I came down with a virus last week

Unable to work for a week due to fever, coughing fits and illness.

I am self employed so do not take sick days easily

Am back to work now but still very chesty cough and low energy

My husband came down with it three days ago and he has been floored by it

We did Covid tests but negative, so was thinking it might be flu

Was also thinking that next year I may want a flu jab! Not sure they are available to everyone though?

I guess OP maybe you did not get flu but maybe it was covid or RSV ?

We think we might have flu but cannot be sure

It's weird isn't it. You think you're resistant until you're in hospital with flu like my friend.

im ill at the moment as well and have felt quite rough and today woken up without taste or smell so I'm guessing Covid

My neighbour is disabled. He is now in isolation in hospital with flu having had the jab in November. He does have underlying conditions. Doing OK now and his wife said it would have been curtains if he hadn't had the jab. That's just one story.

I had the Covid, Flu, and Pneumococcal jabs. Shingles vax in the New Year. So far so good, knock on wood.

I have underlying cardiac stuff going on, I have never had Covid, or the flu, or even a bad cold in years. Just the sniffles, tickly cough - like colds used to be!

With respect, that's not an opinion. You're stating something as fact which is provably untrue. For example, here is some data from the US CDC, one of the most well respected public health bodies in the world, showing the relative efficacy of the flu vaccination year on year.

You're also stating that the vaccine is harmful, as fact. This is not the case again <a class="break-all" href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccine-safety/?CDC_AAref_Val=www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinesafety.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here is some peer reviewed information on influenza vaccine safety.

You are of course perfectly entitled to choose the vaccines you prefer to receive or not. However, if you're going to quote opinion as fact, you should either have peer-reviewed sources to support your assertion of fact or be clear you are stating an opinion only.

Here's the point:

With Covid we knew people with certain health conditions were dying in larger numbers than those without those conditions, just as we know flu does the same.

Science comes up with flu jabs, its probably is pointless for any healthy person under 65 to take the jab, because you are unlikely to die. BUT it is pretty awful.

Its just that in my job we can superspread disease to these groups with heath conditions. Thats why I get it free.

My post was ( as someone whose had flu before) it was REALLY bad, and I was under the foolish impression ( I'm not a scientist ) that the jab would protect me from getting ill.

The news are full of how this years strain is much worse than last year (64%) you can ignore that , if you want.

I was never at risk of going to hospital , I'm a drama queen who cannot take the smallest amount of pain) but lots of people who get flu simply die. I get jabbed for others each year, because of my job, I'm in contact with lots and lots of young people.

"I had the flu jab in October and I have the flu now. I haven't had a dose of flu for many years. Glad I had the jab as it could have been much worse"

I keep pondering having the flu jab as I am offered it. Never in my nearly 50 years have I had the jab and I have had flu once.

I read posts like the one above which tallies with what I'm see around me. People getting jabbed and then getting the flu. Same with covid jabs. Never had those either and had covid mildly once in 2021 but not again and neither have friends and family that didn't get jabbed.

Thank you for the heads up though OP. It sounds nasty.

@thumpe100 thanks for your reply but I didn’t really find it that helpful, sorry. You said HOW to get the vaccine but my question was WHY and I'm still as clueless as I first was. I thought only the vulnerable needed it.

DD and I had the flu recently and I promise you, it was HORRIBLE!

I had the flu jab for the first time last year (except for the year I was pregnant).

I caught something called haemophilius influenzae. Not flu, bit something else.
I've never been so ill, it went on for a month. I haven't been right since, I would say I have sinus issues every few weeks for about 2 weeks at a time. I can't get rid of the cough either. Nearly a year later. Plus I look like I've aged about 5 years!

Still got the flu jab this year though - hoping it gives me some protection!

I havent had flu for over 40 years but i still get my flu jab. I get them free from work. DP doesnt have them and he was really ill last year but me and DD (got her vaccine from school) didnt catch it and were both ok.

Only the vunerable NEED it as they are most likely to run into complications and those workers who come into contact with people who are vulnerable on a daily basis take it- schools, hospitals, universities, etc. The exact sort of places where viruses spread quick. So you could argue people like me who work in institutions like that have a duty to take it, as far as I'm aware none of us are 'forced' to take the jab.

The other group are people who hate being ill. I've been on MN all lunch time, this time yesterday I was broken in bed , lights out , curtain drawn, listening to classic fm on volume 1. SO for me, if its reduced my time felt feeling like death warmed up, its a win.

I qualify for both groups

I think it’s short sighted of the NHS not to offer the jab to a much wider cohort.

Im 55 and had to pay. Lots of people won’t or can’t or won’t think of it.The hospitals are stowed 🤷🏼‍♀️

I'm not and anti-vacc person but I've never had 'flu in my 49 years and haven't even had a cold in two years. I also work in a small organisation and only go in two days a week. My mum has her jabs, she's 85. The only time I've ever bothered to have a flu jab was when it was free when I worked in a big office with loads of people. Why should I get a jab if it isn't mandatory, I'm at low risk of getting 'flu generally or and it's unlikely that I'd be very ill with it?

@thumpe100 but that's you. In your opening post you say everyone should get it. Why should I get it? I'm still none the wiser. Sorry not trying to argue or be stupid, just learn and understand.

No vaccinations are mandatory, but if soemthing is available that reduces the risk of you atching something, why not?? I have never had flu, I don't want the flu, so I have got the jab, I pay through Boots, as does DH and my twenty something DD's. They also don't want flu.

I stuck a garden fork in my foot, and went to get a Tetanus, because I don't want to develop tetanus. My parents ensured I got all my childhood jabs, because my Dad was a healthy inspector, and saw the devastation of childhood illnesses back in the day.

I am pro vaccination, any vaccination, and my take is why wouldn't you take it to help prevent illness??

I am currently on day 9 of flu (influenza A). I spent last Sunday in A&E with raised lactate and hypotension. I felt truely awful that morning. Now I'm tired, bored, aching from all the coughing and want my life back as I'm far too busy for this.

I am a paramedic who caught it after being coughed all over by a patient. It's a miserable job sometimes.