Winter Flu Jabs - for or against?

I always, always get a flu jab. I've been really ill with it twice in the last forty years which was quite enough, thanks. I never want to get it again. My arm is only slightly sore the next day. For me it's well worth it.
It was free this year from the GP and I'm not sure why but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Thanks Anya for the info. I will do my best to keep washing my hands after having been out, as the last thing I want on top of my Polymyalgia is Oz Flu. Bring on the Spring

In my late 40s I was very Ill with flu and never want to have that again. My then GP offered me a flu jab every year. After moving to France and before I was 65 I use to go to the pharmacy in Sainsbury or Tesco when I was in UK in October and get one for about £10. Wouldn't go without one now. Even when I have had about of flu its never been anything like as bad.

I would take a sore arm over flu any day.

I always used to say "I've got flu" - until I really did have flu, and realised that I had NEVER had it before. It completely wiped me out for a week. I can't remember ever feeling so ill before or since.

So sore arm or any other mild symptoms are welcome if it means that I don't get, or at least have reduced symptoms of, flu

Had mine on 2nd October, very sore arm for nearly a week this time, worse than ever before. I've been having flu jab for past 8? years as I a Epileptic & have also developed Type 2 Diabetes just over 5 years ago. I am only 62.

I have had pneumonia jab about 6 years ago, 2 years ago I spent 5 weeks in Hospital with pneumonia.

I have twice had flu, many years ago. I had to drag myself downstairs as DD was only 7 first time (older 2nd time but I was home alone). I could do nothing but lie on the settee & try to dose myself with paracetamol, DD looking after me. Last Christmas I caught a very bad cold but it was not flu.

So many people think that a nasty, really bad cold is influenza. It is not, totally different, and anyone who has really experienced 'flu will confirm this. It used to be said that no matter how bad the cold, if you saw a £50 note flutter past your window, you would go to find this, with 'flu, there is no way you can even move from your bed.
Like many here, I began having my 'flu jabs when I was working at the local hospital and have continued every year since retirement.
It is, as has been said, a dead virus - however it takes between two to three weeks following the jab to be effective, so anything that your body is harbouring prior to the jab, or you are in contact with for several days afterwards, you will still get.
This year had mine end of September, no sore arm or any other effect. Had my pneumonia (once only) jab many years back and would love to have the shingles protective jab - but due to rather strange roll-out procedure I cannot get this until I am 78 years old in two years time.
The medics do try to forecast how the flu virus will change each year, but cannot ever be totally correct. However, some protection is surely better than none at all. Cannot understand anyone not taking advantage of this.

There are lots of different types of pneumonia. Pneumonia Jab will protect against a specific pneumonia-causing bug. But not every possible type.
I wonder whether those who hesitate to have a flu jab are actually "scared of the needle"?
I agre - far more scared of feeling awful for a month.

I have the jab each year. To date I have not caught flu and only once in the 1970's so do not know if it is my immunity, my lack of exposure or the jab that works. Also do not get sore arm so happy to have it.

That is s real waste of an appointment. I bet you would have both together if you had to pay per visit. No wonder appointments are so hard to get.

I am one of the first to ask for the jab in September ! I have always had it except the year before last when for some reason I missed it and got flu . I was very ill for several weeks , my temp was so high I hallucinated which was very frightening and something I do not want to repeat if possible. I have no side effects and no sore arm .

My grandmother died of flu so I am happy to have the jab every year. Had the latest one a week ago, had forgotten all about it until I read this post. I cannot understand why anyone would turn it down.

I have never had flu, however, I now always have a flu jab. I have never had any reaction, not even a sore arm.
My advice would be have one. The people who have flu the better.

The less people who have flu the better

Had my flu jab at 5pm and the nurse assured me it included the Australian strain, something of a relief I really do not want anything else this year.

Today's flu strains vary in severity, but leaving myself exposed to the possibility of a bad flu season, is a chance I'm not willing to take. The flu is not just another cold. Even an ordinary garden variety strain of flu can play havoc with your health. The elderly, women who are pregnant and the very young seem to be the most vulnerable. Flu is not like an ordinary cold, it is much worse, more severe, lasts longer and it can kill.

In the 1960s I had Hong Kong flu. Despite being a fit, young mother at the time, I developed a secondary kidney infection and ultimately lost my right kidney. My husband, mother and grandfather also caught it around the same time. It killed my grandfather. Complications affected his heart and he never recovered. He died of heart failure less than four months after getting sick. At age 60 or older, the risk of death increases exponentially. My witty, funny beloved 'granpa' had just turned 69.

Hubby and I took our flu shots on Sept 26, as we do every year! We have plenty of scars to justify it.

Franbern. The shingles jab does seem to be offered under a unusual criteria. I had mine this summer age 70.....but the only other age that was offered was 78. The nurse said if I did"nt take the chance to have it now I would have to wait until 78. I don,t know how they decide on this arrangement, whether it is on cost or vulnerability. I actually had shingles a few years ago and did"nt realise it is something you can get more than once.

I have just had mine.
As it happened I only went to the sugery as I realised I had probably left my knitted shrug there.
I went back today to get it and then found they had the Flu jab session going on. I got two birds with one stone there.
The queues were out of the building but they really have an efficient system going on and very short waiting times.

I have never had flu jab & unless I had an underlying medical condition I never would.
The evidence is just not there.

Why flu vaccines so often fail

As stated previously I’m completely of the belief that if you want this ‘jab’ then go for it, but just don’t be under the impression it will offer complete protection.

NanKate so much good sense in simply ensuring good hygiene habits like hand washing, I agree. Again, no guarantee, but stacking the odds just that bit more against infection.

It’s a fair point that it doesn’t offer complete protection and knowing that helps avoid the moral hazard of being careless about hand washing. I think in the winter of 14/15 the vaccine failed miserably because of viral mutations occurring and the excess mortality rate that winter was dreadful.

Exactly the point I’m making. Too much complacency thinking ‘I’ve had jab so I’ll all right Jack!’ Just wanted to inject ?

A touch of reality.....my post posted before I’d finished

My friend, who has many health issues, has been given Imuvac which her pharmacist said covers Oz Flu. If Anya is about or anyone else with medical knowledge, is this a stronger vaccination than the Fluarix Tetra that I was given at Boots please ?

I have been having the flu jab for 20+ years, since I had a really bad attack of flu. I have always willingly paid for it.
I think Franbern has pointed it out.......a lot of people simply do not understand that flu is not just a bad cold. I cringe when colleagues say things like, "I had 'flu over the weekend" but am fine now!

In my experience, I totally LOST 5 days of my life...and it was another 3 weeks before I felt really well again. In the 5 days I had no idea what was happening...

I do agree that having the 'flu jab doesn't guarantee you will never catch it, but you won't catch it FROM the 'flu jab which is a common myth also. I am hoping that if I ever do catch it, it will be less severe.

My DH has always refused a 'flu' jab as he simply has never HAD 'flu, he only thinks he has!

Still....I would never insist anyone has it, its personal choice but I know, for me, as soon as they are available, I am there in the queue.

Nankate any vaccine you get will be based on the recommendation made by the WHO about which are the most likely viruses to be around. There is a slightly different kind being used with young kids - its a nasal spray, but not effective for our age group apparently.
Hopefully the jab will protect us from the Australian flu if that starts to spread. I heard this week from a young man who was off work with bad case of flu of some kind - v high temperature etc. I'm booked for mine on Monday morning in Boots before my language class.