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

[leafygarden42]

Is it safe to have the covid booster and flu vaccine in the same arm at the same time??

I'm asking this on behalf of one of my patients who had this from his GP.

[welshmardymum]

Whats the best place to get reputable information about the vaccine, especially for children? I have always been someone who has had a vaccine for anything when asked and for my children also without questioning, but with the conflict in advice between Sage and the government this time and varying responses from governments around the world with regard to children it has led me to seek further info and i don't know where to go.

[KeyboardWorriers]

I booked for a flu vaccine privately because I wouldn't be eligible for a free one. The pharmacist seemed surprised I wanted one. Is it beneficial for even those without risk factors to have the flu jab?

[TurquoiseVixen]

How to get a covid vaccine if you are not a uk resident?

[kagerou]

Is it safe to get my flu jab and covid booster while breastfeeding?

[Diian]

I had Covid at the end of October 2021. I am 50 and due for my booster on 22nd November. Would it be better to wait until Jan/Feb to have the booster as I have built up some natural immunity and would be desperately unlucky to have it twice in two months? Would having the booster later would give me better protection for the Spring?

[FuggyPidding]

How long after testing positive for Covid do I have to wait before having any of the vaccines?
Thanks

[NativityDreaming]

I am not eligible for the free flu jab (under 50 and no health concerns). Both my children are being given the nasal spray at school. Is it really of any use to get the jab myself? I don’t really want to spend money on it.

[kennythekangaroo]

I had to have the a/z covid jabs due to allergies. Are they still available because my local centre was not offering them as a booster option.

[Sonata13]

Are all the booster jabs Pfizer? I never had to wait after both my jabs. Why are people having to wait and be observed after booster jabs?

[MadamElderfield]

Do you have to pay for the flu vaccine if you're not in one of the invited/vulnerable groups? If so how much is it? Is the flu jab encouraged for everyone or is it like the covid one where most vulnerable should get it first and less vulnerable should wait?

[claza93]

Is it safe to have both jabs (covid booster and flu) at the same time or do you recommend a gap?

[CamQ]

Given that there were hardly any flu cases last winter, how can we be confident that this year’s flu jab will be effective as the usual global flu surveillance of the dominant flu strains will be impossible to check?

[CamQ]

Why are cases, hospitalisations and deaths still significant if over 90% of the population has COVID antibodies and the vaccines are effective?

[CamQ]

What impact could antigenic sin and ADE have on COVID infection amongst the UK population? Could it be the same as is seen in flu and Dengue fever?
If so, could vaccinations and boosters lead to a higher risk or serious illness and death from COVID in some people?

[Rae1000]

Hi Are 12 - 15 year olds going to be offered a second vaccine. It seems like it is needed for this age group to get into some countries without the need to have a PCR test?

Additionally, are boosters going to be offered to the under 50s at all?

[CamQ]

Why has Pfizer been chosen as the booster vaccination? Would it not give a broader spectrum of immune response if people received a booster with a different vaccine to doses 1 and 2 (if over 40 years old)?

[CamQ]

Why are people not given the chance to test for their level of anti-COVID antibodies before being expected to receive a booster vaccine?

What impact does a recent breakthrough COVID infection have on the requirement for a booster dose? Is a booster still required?

[CamQ]

As you can probably guess from my questions, I’m a PhD - educated scientist involved in the roll out of the vaccine programme!

From my experience of new vaccinators, not all manage to perform IM vaccination correctly- what impact does poor vaccination technique I.e. not IM, gave on efficacy of the initial vaccines or booster?

[CamQ]

What is the predicted % effectiveness of the flu vaccine this season? How does that compare to previous years?

[CamQ]

Following on from my question above, here’s the most recent data for effectiveness of flu vaccines (from Oxford uni) - how is this year predicted to compare to previous years?

vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/vk/sites/default/files/u490/Flu%20vaccine%20effectiveness%2020%3A21%202.png

[frogface69]

How much does the flu vaccination cost ?

[CamQ]

Here’s the full paper for those who are interested:

vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/vk/inactivated-flu-vaccine

[Florence08]

@CamQ Finding all your questions really interesting - I would like to know more flu vaccine stats too.

Agree re IM vaccination technique - I am an HCP and we are coming across shoulder issues in patients as a result of it (SIRVA)

[DrFarzana]

Hi everyone, thanks so much for sharing your questions on winter vaccines. I can see a lot of you are after more information on getting yourselves and your families vaccinated this winter and I'm happy to help. I'll be online from today answering as many questions as I can.