Anyone had a Reaction

The mix of the flu strains is different each year, because they take a punt at which flu strains are likely to be around over the winter when they start growing the vaccine earlier in the year.
The more vaccines you get, the more resistant you become to flu, as you grow partial immunity to strains related to ones you've been vaccinated against - as well of course as the main one!

Every year I've had the jab, it has been followed by a bout of something resembling flu.

I had one a few days ago and have felt rough ever since: aching muscles, painful knee joints, tearfulness esp first thing in the morning, inflammation around the site of the the injection.

Yesterday I read the leaflet that goes with the jab and it confirmed all the above as possible side effects.

Why do I still have the jab? Good question. Possibly I am aware that flu can have serious consequence particularly for the elderly.

I have just copied this from the web:

You may experience soreness and/or swelling in your arm at the injection site after getting a flu jab. Some people have cold-like symptoms, including a mild fever, sniffles, headache, runny nose, sore throat, cough and muscle aches for a day or two after getting the flu jab.

Google 'side effects of the flu jab' for further information.

DH and I have had flu jabs every year fo many tears with no reaction apart from a lightly achy arm for 24 hrs. My brother and sister in law had flu one winter and were extremely ill (bedridden) for a couple of weeks which persuaded me to have rhe jab. Also had shingles jab (no reaction) and pneumonia jab which was the only one to make me fel slightly ill- aching joints etc ) for a couple of days. Worth it I think as I knew someone who died from pneumonia.
I get cross when people say they had the flu jab once and came down with a bad cold so wont have it again. Maybe they would have got a cold anyway? In any case it's minor compared to flu!

It's all very well those who don't have a reaction being critical of those who have for refusing the jab.

DH was ill for three years follwing his jab. The third time he was so bad he was hospitalized with acute athsma. When my turn came I was practically mugged by our practice nurse who was so scornful when I voiced my concerns I went straight ahead with it.

Never again. DH and I were both ill for WEEKS. It might just have been full blown 'flu'

I have been lucky with no reactions with many many years of flu jabs. I have had flu in the distant past and have no wish to repeat that experience if I can avoid it.

It is worth remembering that sometimes the jab coincides with the start of a bug that would have made you ill/laid you low anyway. Hard to distinguish whether it is really as a result of the jab.

I am 24 hours down the line now and all well. Commiserations to those of you who react to these jabs. It must be a difficult decision for you.

Touch wood - so far I've been lucky. I had mine yesterday and just have the odd itch. It's been difficult to get action from the NHS recently so anything offered I grab! I'm also encouraging young people in our family to have the Meningitis jab. [The people giving the 'jab' always uses the term 'scratch'. It's no-way a 'scratch' in my view!]

Anyone know if

You may experience soreness and/or swelling in your arm at the injection site after getting a flu jab. Some people have cold-like symptoms, including a mild fever, sniffles, headache, runny nose, sore throat, cough and muscle aches for a day or two after getting the flu jab.

is contagious?

Ideally son needs to visit someone following a bereavement someone has had, once he has recovered a bit.

henetha - good luck for your knee op. Do start a thread so that you can help people like me who will need one in a year or two understand what to look out for.

I have the flu jab each year and very little reaction in arm each time.

Interesting one obieone
I have asked the same question of the MMR vaccine - if a child who has a reaction to that ie temperature and rash, can pass on measles or rubella to a younger sibling who has not been vaccinated yet.
A nurse poo pooed the idea but I am not convinced!

I think the swelling and redness is due to the reaction by the immune system, sending lots of histamines to the site to attack, (just as it does to an insect bite or a brush against stinging nettles) or so it is not likely to be contagious.

Quote from www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/pages/flu-vaccine-questions-answers.aspx -
"The vaccine does not contain any live viruses, so it cannot cause flu. You may get a slight temperature and aching muscles for a couple of days afterwards, and your arm may feel a bit sore where you had the injection"

Measles etc - "Two types of measles vaccines are currently available.

Mumps Measles Rubella vaccine, live (MMR-II)
Mumps Measles Rubella and varicella virus vaccine (Proquad) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measles_vaccine)
The live MMR-II vaccine is attenuated (weakened) so in theory it shouldn't give cause to the disease or be infectious. In practice - I don't know. It sounds as though the other is not live.

Thanks Elegran
Re the MMR, this was a few years ago and the baby recovered with seemingly no ill effects, although was very poorly at the time about 10 days after the older one reacted to the pre-school booster.

I've only had one flu jab and that was about thirty years ago, and felt really ill afterwards, so never again. I think the GP surgeries push them as they get paid for everyone they do. I notice that chemists seem to have started doing them now.

DH got Guillan Barre 2 months after his flu jab 3 years ago. Luckily he more or less fully recovered. Apparently it is very rare but can happen , so he has been advised not to have it anymore .

My son was really ill with it 5yrs ago and will never have another

I've never had a reaction to a flu jab when I had my pneumonia jab I had it a week after and had no reaction to that either.

You are entitled to the pneumovax vaccine when you turn 65, you should be offered it but I wasn't and had to ask for it. Had both together on Saturday, the pneumovax arm is a lot more sore than the flu one, a bit achy, but nothing major. I had the shingles vaccine earlier in the year, paid privately as not old enough for the NHS programme, but it is such a horrible disease it was definitely worth it. However my arm had a reaction like that to the BCG vaccine, and wept for ages.

Took paracetamol this morning went out and dug and hopefully worn the headache and achiness (how do you spell that!!!) off.
Definitely not so bad as a couple of years ago.

So that's me done -over and out folks.

Had the flu jab Friday and feel fine, not even a sore arm, which in the past I have had.
Pneumonia jab in a few weeks.

Never had the flu jab, refused it every year after my husband had it once and was really ill afterwards. I never seem to get coughs or colds and we are away November to End of Feb in Asia. I suppose I could get the flu there!

Both DH and I had a mild reaction to the flu jab a couple of years ago and I didn't have it last year. About 10 days ago I had the shingles jab and after 36 hours my arm became swollen, red and itchy and I've felt really under the weather (hot sweats, incredibly tired & headachey). Feeling better now but wasn't warned that I might have this sort of reaction.

Didn't know about the pneumonia jab, though.

I'm wondering what to do about it now. I normally have the flu jab but this year I feel particularly weak and I don't know which way to go. If I have a reaction (as I have once before) then I don't know how I will cope with that on top of how I already feel but then my immune system is compromised because of the anaemia. Plus I have my heart problems too, which is why I normally have it. What to do?

Or I could just stay in all winter? Hibernate?

Heart problem ruby? Definitely go for it. You can see by the time that I'm up early had a grotty night still from aches and feeling under the weather from flu and shingles jab. Just about to take some more paracetamol. But the alternative is so much worse so I will still have it next year. Besides you may be fine. dh has heart problems and he never has any reaction whatsoever.
Yesterday I tried to work my way through it - dug the garden - today I'll take it easier! See if that helps

Here's hoping everyone is feeling better to-day my arm has stopped aching but still feels very heavy when moving it,I'm off work on holidays for the next week I'm so glad we never decided to go away anywhere and shall spend the week at home relaxing and getting over the reaction I have had.

One little tip ..
Always wash your hands when you come home from being out shopping or whatever . Most viruses are caught out of the house on door handles , shopping trollies etc . I have done this for the last two years since getting an almost fatal flu virus . It seems to help as I have not had a cold or anything since .

I have at least a day's illness with the symptoms you mention every time I have a flu jab. I have to weight the pros and cons as, if I get flu, it triggers asthma which is truly awful.