Do you have questions about winter vaccinations for flu and Covid-19? - £200 voucher to be won

[CeriMumsnet]

Created for the Department of Health

THIS Q&A IS NOW CLOSED FOR QUESTIONS. SEE DR. FARZANA'S ANSWERS FROM PAGE 6

According to the NHS, we are expecting to have a bad flu season this year, especially compared to the very mild season we experienced in 2020/21. This has led to lower immunity amongst the population. GP and mum of two Dr Farzana Hussain is here to answer your questions about getting vaccinated for flu and COVID-19 this winter.

• Everyone who shares a question below by 12 November will be eligible for a prize draw
• One lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher from a store of their choice
• Dr Farzana will be back online next week to answer a selection of your questions.

About Dr Farzana

Dr Farzana Hussain is an NHS GP with 20 years’ experience and mum of two teenagers. She is Clinical Director of a Primary Care Network and won GP of the year in 2019.

Here’s what the Department of Health has to say

'Getting vaccinated this winter is so important as we continue to mix with family and friends in the run up to the festive period. We know that vaccines are our way out of the pandemic, so we are urging everyone that’s eligible to get their winter vaccines when called, whether that’s your first, second or booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or flu, for the best possible protection – for you and your loved ones'

Do you have questions about the benefits of getting you and your family vaccinated for flu this winter? Would you like to know more about the current COVID-19 vaccination advice for children? Whatever your questions, post on this thread for Dr Farzana to answer.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ
Mumsnet Insight T&Cs apply

[Andoffwego]

I’ve always wondered whether, if you get the flu vaccine every year, do you retain some immunity to each strain you are vaccinated against long term, or does immunity wane quickly?

[Estraya]

I had the Astra Zeneca vaccination for my first two jabs and it made me really unwell both times (the 2nd one left me with a bad headache for several weeks). Can I have the Pfizer for my next booster instead?

[queenoftheglee]

How long do I need between a flu jab and a booster jab?

[fishnships]

I got a text to say I was eligible for the flu vaccine but when I tried to make an appointment, I wasn't due to get one for two months. It is useful to have a reminder - but not this far in advance! Could the NHS admin co-ordinate this a bit better as it is a waste of everyone's time trying to book an appointment yet not being able to get one?

[RachC2021]

Why isn’t the flu jab being automatically offered to everyone who had to shield? (I was only ECV temporarily, due to chemotherapy; that all finished by February so I’m not ECV nor eligible by work/age now.)

[CurzonDax]

I originally got the AstraZenec vaccine, and have recently just got the Pfizer booster. I have had severe reactions to the booster (similar to what my husband had fir his first Pfizer). Does my immune system therefore, only see this as the first dose? How protected am I from the booster, considering I have now had 2 different types of the vaccination?

My husband is under 50, but I was deemed clinically extremely vulnerable; will he be eligible for a booster, once he has has his six month period?

[helcrai]

My daughter had her covid 19 vaccine last month in school as she was 15 years old. She has now turned 16; will she be offered a second dose?

[pyjamapj]

I already got the flu...should I still take the flu vaccine?

[shewhomustbeEbayed]

Am currently recovering from Covid ( had a positive PCR result on 03/10 and still having some symptoms and off work ) am being invited for a Covid booster ( had 2nd Covid vaccine 09/04 ) but am loathe to overload my system at this time.
Should I wait to have booster until fully recovered or have now ?
I had my flu jab in September.

[apd237]

I have never had a flu jab and never suffered from the flu - is there any real need to take the jab?

[mandes1]

I have Antiphosphilipid syndrome (which means I have sticky blood which is prone to clotting), Am I right in being hesitant in having the vaccine? would one of them be safer for me to have?

Thank you.

[ilovesooty]

Will I be offered a booster vaccine every 6 months and will this be advised for ongoing protection?

[elizaco]

Do you expect the Covid booster to become a regular thing? And how frequently?

[MargosKaftan]

Why are 12-15 year olds only having 1 jab when internationally children this age have been having 2 with no significant issues? (Won't this just make holidays next year a fucking nightmare for those of us with a child aged 12 - 15 who isn't fully vaccinated through no fault of their own)

[Mads96]

Why are sixth formers not getting the flu jab at school? And most GP surgeries aren't offering it them either.

[Miralice]

Do we already know if the flu vaccine this year is a good fit for the circulating strains?

[damnthisvirusandmarriage]

When will everyone be offered booster? And should everyone get flu jab too?!

[lydia2021]

I had the pneumonia jab many years ago. It's a one off jab from the g p. Why has there been no mention of this jab. As it affects the lungs, then surely it would help to stop
Covid in its tracks, if we catch Covid

[Marketa85]

I am went to pharmacy for flu jab and was asked if I was allergic to eggs? Are people asked this? Are there eggs in the jab?

[lentilsforever]

Is there a particular time of day best to have the flu jab for it to be most effective?

[jellybeanpopper]

Are women who have had a baby in the last year eligible for the flu vaccine on the NHS?

[SmileyClare]

Is it advisable for my husband to get the flu jab while he's still recovering from flu/a nasty virus he's had for two weeks?

[throttlebottom]

How can I find out which vaccine my son was given for his Covid vaccination? He wasn't given a vaccination card.

[tsmainsqueeze]

I am not an anti vaxer , both myself and husband had covid vacc and our 3 kids have had all childhood vaccines.
However i am not confident in the safety of vaccinating children against covid with a new vaccine when there is no long term data as yet .
I would like to know how / why we are being told it is safe despite no long term data.
I am puzzled with this claim due to this fact .

[mrshoho]

How soon does immunity from the flu jab kick in? My Son's secondary school are having flu jabs at the end of November/beginning of December. Is this later than usual or are they always around this time for school children?

I think may have been asked already but why are sixth forms not included in the flu jab program this year?