Winter Flu Jabs - for or against?

I had my flu jab 2 weeks ago, but was told this years weouldnt cover the Australian one,that will be in next years, so whoever said it would is wrong
This years covers Swine flu and Avian flu.and one other which i cant remember, but not the OZ one
I have never had flu, but i dont want it either
My daughter has Chrones, so got hers free and one of my sons has a comprised immune system so got his free too

Gillybob, the list of people who qualify for free flu jabs is on the NHS website, under Flu Prevention (or you can ask at your GP surgery). From the NHS point of view, it is over 65s, those with conditions that make them vulnerable, and carers. A few employers (including the NHS) provide jabs for their staff.

So if you are not eligible, you pay privately. Some GP surgeries do it, but the most accessible are pharmacies. I think Boots is charging £13 this year.

Just wondering ? Do you get a free flu jab if you don't pay for prescriptions? Or rather vice versa. I have an underlying condition so get mine free despite not qualifying for free prescriptions. Do you pay for the flu jab in say Scotland where prescriptions are free for everyone ? How much does it cost if you pay for it yourself ?

Feel I should add that I am on methotrexate due to my RA and that does suppress the the bodies immune system so could have caused the problem with me contracting flu in the first place but I have been advised by the consultant to have the flu vaccine again this year.So I will

Yes, have read about the Australian flu outbreak this year being a bad one. Does anyone know if this current flu vaccine has been modified to deal with the Australian strain?

I personally doubt there has been sufficient time, and therefore wonder just how efficacious this years flu vaccine actually is.

I had the flu last year despite having the jab and was hospitalised for five days in isolation all my visitors and hospital staff had to wear. caps and masks and gowns before they entered the room You would have thought I had the Ebola virus

You are braver than me, trisher.
I have had flu. Don't want it again.

I think there are still people who confuse having a nasty, heavy cold with having the flu. The last time I had it ( 8 years ago) I spent Christmas in hospital and I was so out of it I didn't care.

I have twice been hospitalised as a result if the flu and always have my flu jab these days. Touch wood never had any complications and not do much as a sniffle as a result.

That's sad, Eglantine. Sorry about that.

I've had flu injections ever since they realised that it would be a good idea for carers to have them too.
My husband had had them since they first came out.
There would be no point in him being protected from flu, and me getting it, as there would then be nobody to look after him.
The winter after he died they did not give me one, and for the first time since starting the injections I had a few very heavy colds. The next year they let me have one because, even though I wasn't 65, I would be before the next round of injections.
Strange logic, but who cares.

I've never had a reaction, except for the first time when I had a headache which lasted just one day. Last year the jab was so quick and painless that I wondered if the nurse had really done it. One caveat this year is that there's been a nasty flu virus in the Antipodes which is probably not included in this year's vaccine. However, it's still worth having to ward off previous years' bugs.

I've never had a flu vaccination. I have had flu and I do know the difference between flu and a bad cold. I don't have it firstly because I think it takes no account of any immune system problems people may have, only provides protection from some strains of flu and lessens the likelihood that you will take careful precautions if you have contact with flu. I also have major doubts about drug companies who make fortunes from selling this commodity.

I think we forget how dangerous flu can be. The OP probably thinks it's like a bad cold. I was left an orphan as a baby because of flu.

And immunity will not save you, unless the virus is identical to your antibodies, and how likely is that? Next to zero I would have thought.

People die from flu. The older you are the more likely there will be complications and the more likely you will need medical intervention. Every year the scientist try to second guess on previous experience the most likely flu virus that will be prevalent for the coming year, it isn’t a dead cert. but it is the best we have got, and I think we, as older folk have a duty to protect ourselves as far as we are able.
Money and time is put into ensuring this we shouldn’t waste it by refusing the jab.

Never had it. (Get invites every year as a career). Never had flu bad enough that I would call it flu - never bad enough to be in bed.

I would rather get long lasting immunity from previous infections.

The evidence for their benefit in healthy adults is fairly limited - www.cochrane.org/CD001269/ARI_vaccines-to-prevent-influenza-in-healthy-adults

Same as most posters, I get no adverse reaction to the flu vaccine. Why not have it if there's even just a slight chance out could prevent something.
Must be coincidence but a couple I know won't have it and every winter they both get horrible fluey type colds that last for weeks. As someone said, real flu is awful, have only had it about 3 times in my life.

We are being offered vouchers for flu jabs at work. I've applied but not received it yet.

I think it's important that we have it as, the more people are vaccinated the more we reduce the possibility of there being a bad epidemic. I know I was always terribly concerned that my DD and DIL might catch the flu when they were pregnant and, if my having a flu jab could reduce that risk then it was worth having. I realise they both could have had a flu jab, but, not having had the jab prior to being pregnant they didn't want to be vaccinated when they were. Will be having my pneumonia jab soon as well. I had a friend who was furious with the medical centre when her mum died of pneumonia, only to be told that she had been offered it but had refused.

Mine is due on Saturday. I have had varied reactions over the years, from feeling really grotty to nothing. Last year was nothing so fingers crossed for this year. I had shingles and flu together and flu and pneumonia together - nothing noticeable to report.

Had mine on Sat. Felt a bit under the weather yesterday - first time I have had any sort of reaction in decades of having the jab. But better than flu!

We both had our for jabs yesterday. The pharmacist told us this particular jab guards against 4 types of flu including the Oz one. He also said the Oz Flu has not yet reached the UK. We should in 10 to 14 days have built up our immunity. Because I have an auto immune illness I will not be protected 100% but if I get it he said it would be milder. IMO it is worth having.

We both had headaches yesterday after the jab, but both feel fine this morning.

I had my flu and pneumonia jabs together couple of years back Phoenix and didn’t have any reaction

Got mine today. Last year visited friends in Missouri US and 5 of my friends came down with horrible flu-had already had my shot. I didn't get it but had to go out to a cafe to eat as they couldn't even stand the smell of toast and coffee. It was toilet hugging time for them-thank goodness they had 3 toilets. I was never so happy that I had preventative.

No adverse reaction and no flu. We havnt had this years dose and will get it done on return from holiday.
Woukd also recommend pneumonia jab too. Protection for 10 years.