GP wants me to pay for flu jab

[Smithakp1]

I am 26 weeks pregnant. My hospital said I need to get a flu jab from my GP.

My doctor at the Surgery said the nurse will give one. Once I go to the reception, the reception and head GP says they do flu jab only during Oct-Dec. Otherwise, I need to get one from a private appointment.

When I confronted them, the GP said he will give me a prescription and that I need to buy the vaccine privately and that the nurse will administer.

I thought free flu jab for pregnant women was mandatory as per government guidelines. Please advise

Was so stressed out the way the receptionists and the nurse argued with me in front of other patients.

You are a bit late in the year (and pregnancy) but I'd have thought it was still available as it's still officially flu season. Try the pharmacy. I was offered one in an independent chemist but I'd already had it at my GP. Failing that get the prescription, and use your prescription exemption charge certificate so you don't pay for it. Don't know why the GP surgery is being so difficult and also why you couldn't get it from your midwife-my antenatal clinic were offering it to anyone who wanted it.

Hi,

I would go back to your midwife or possibly see a different GP in the practice (or change GP).

I feel quite strongly you shouldn't have to pay for this.

xx

I agree see your midwife it annoys me the way they talk down to people because they think they no best when half the time they dont no anything definitely as advice from the midwife she can tell you the best way to go
Good luck xx

Probably no point in having it. It's very late in the season and the vaccine this year didn't cover the predominant strain of flu. You could try Boots or other pharmacist. DH works for boots and they will do it free for anyone normally entitled to get it free.

^^ what bonzo said. I've decided not to have it at all this time - it seems pointless.

There are signs all over my gp surgery about being pregnant and flu and that its free.

I would tell the receptionist that you are pregnant so means you get it free!

The flu vaccine only had low effectiveness for the seasonal strains this year but it also includes the swine flu strain - when there were first outbreaks of swine flu (about 4 yrs ago) it was not during normal flu season and pregnant women were found to be at an increased risk of complications (iirc a pregnant lady died). The recommendation to have the vaccine was only introduced post swine flu and is also why season doesn't matter.

I'm not sure that Boots etc will do you if you are pregnant, Tesco Pharmacy said I'd have to go to my GP.

Could you get in touch with your local health authority to check that the GP surgery is allowed to restrict access like this with pregnant women? Sounds like a mistake to me.

I'm not getting it because my surgery has run out of the vaccine :(

Complain to the drs surgery about the way you've been spoken to, and advise them it's nhs guidelines to give pregnant women the jab www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/flu-jab-vaccine-pregnant.aspx#How

This department of health booklet says the jab is free www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368079/PHE_8879_Flu_2014_A5_General_leaflet_14_.pdf

Reading more into the jab, the department of health advice is to have it between September to November during flu season. I'm woundering if because it's March your GP surgery has run out of vaccine and that's why they have said you have to pay. However because you're pregnant and in a high risk category you should be able to get a free vaccination - so unfortunatley you'll have to complain that they've not given you what the govement recommends

Yup , nurse here and the flu vac this year was overwhelmingly ineffective and as said earlier didn't cover the predominant strain of flu.

And tbh flu season is pretty much over.

They've probably run out, but I expect if they asked around they could probably get one from another surgery, I think they're being a bit off.
That said, I probably wouldn't bother getting it if I were you. Too late in the season, relatively ineffective...I don't think it's worth the hassle.

The flu vaccine IS free for pregnant ladies no matter what the month. It's generally available from September to February.
On the NHS website under flu jab FAQ's it says if your GP has run out of the flu vaccine they should work with neighbouring practises etc to get it, or book you in elsewhere.
There's absolutely no reason why you should pay unless you have opted to go private. Good luck

I weigh up the risks of vaccines and personally don't feel there's enough benefit to offset risks with this one especially this year now

Of course it's everybody's personal decision to make but I wouldn't worry

And for someone on here that says they are a nurse to discourage you from it isn't that great. If it's recommended for pregnant ladies by the NHS and it is free, then take it.
Unless your own GP tells you that "flu season is over" and your own GP says that you don't necessarily need it, then that's fine

We are reimbursed to offer it to all eligible patients up until 31st March.

That's if we have any vaccine left. We tend to use it all up by January.

If you're 26 weeks now why didn't you get it earlier? It can be given at any stage in pregnancy unlike the whooping cough vaccine which can't be given before 28 weeks.

Flu jab is free for pregnant women. Your doctor's surgery may well have run out so a nhs prescription would be reasonable compromise.

My gp surgery had ran out but my local coop pharmacy were happy to do it for free. Didn't even ask to see an exemption cert.

Thank you for everyone's messages.

I almost had an argument with the senior doctor of the GP Surgery, as the other doctor said I should get it for free. The notion I got was that they were trying to cut costs.

Eventually, the head doctor agreed to give me a prescription, which when I took to Boots was told I have to pay saying it is not covered under exemption. Later they asked me to tick the box re exemption.