flu jab

Have had for last ten years or so-employer used to pay, now free .
Never had a bad reaction
Had flu once when younger . Was awful.

muddynails I read (it was while looking for the figures in my previous post, so I didn't note where) that the virus in the nasal spray is a weakened virus (not dead as in the jab) It doesn't survive the heat in the body, but it is cooler in the nose, so can cause a local infection there. Antibodies deal with this infection and are then alerted for future infections elsewhere, so it still works.

It sounds as though it is an alternative for those who can't stand injections, but injections are better.

Risk assessment is highly subjective. We are programmed to be careful, so we are seeing through a magnifying glass when look at the possibility of getting a reported side effect.

RISK TABLE
Very common - 1 in 10 - 1 in a family
Common - from 1 in 10 to 1 in 100 - 1 in a street
Uncommon - from 1 in 100 1 in 1000 - 1 in a village
Rare - from 1 in 1000 to 1 in 10,000 - 1 in a small town
Very rare - Less than 1 in 10,000 - 1 in a large town

Add to that the fact that for one person who tells all the friends and acquaintances about a given side effect, there could be 99 people who didn't get it so didn't mention it. You hear more about problems than than about those that go smoothly.

Reported side effects of flu jabs - Soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, low-grade fever, and aches. after a flu jab - 1 to 2 in a 100
Extreme reactions - about 2 in a million (100,000)

Annual attack rate of influenza - estimated at 5%–10% in adults and 20%–30% in children. Worldwide, these annual epidemics are estimated to result in about 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness, and about 250 000 to 500 000 deaths.

Possible complications of influenza - They include viral or bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and ear infections and sinus infections, especially in children. The flu can worsen long-term medical conditions, like congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. You might also have muscle inflammation (myositis), problems with your central nervous system, and heart problems such as heart attacks, inflammation of the organ (myocarditis), and inflammation of the sac around it (pericarditis).

Ive had one for the past 14 years, as I had a bout of nasty flue which left me with asthma in my early fifties. Left me with really nasty lungs and was advised to have the jab every year from then on. I still managed to get a bout of swine flu in the last pandemic in 2009,as it started after they'd already produced the vaccine for that year, but I didn't get it nearly as badly fortunately, as I'd had the vaccine. It could save your life, so I would defo advise to get it, if you have any weakness in the respiratory system.

So the guess this year may be better than last. It is your decision, but I think respect should be shown for those who choose not to have it. There is a strong basis for not believing in it. Mercury, shedding the vaccine and the fact that it may contribute to the mutation of the virus are just a few reasons.

Ginny42 They haven't contained Mercury for a few years!

I have had my flu jab every year since I was a student nurse age 19, and the first one did make me feel a bit manky for two or three days. I've had no reaction to any subsequent dose, but last week I had the flu and pneumonia jabs together and developed quite severe cold symptoms with mild fever and general aches. This may or may not have been related to the vaccines, but it's a small price to pay for avoiding these killer diseases.

had mine yesterday and no reaction , not even a sore. arm . I take it every year as does oh , but he is on antibiotics and has to wait till they are finished

Article from 5th February, 2015.....

my husband, older than me was eligible for flu vac. long before me, I do know (even though medics say vac. is not live) I, without fail had milder symptoms of flu for aprox 3 days after he had received his vac, now I also have the vac and stay perfectly well.
More worrying though is the live flu vaccine inserted up the nose, I have read the germs from this are active for up to 2 weeks and can be caught from bodily secretions, sneezing etc,a good reason to get the flu vaccination.

That was last year, Trisher It will be a different selction this year.

Just a warning if you have had your jab
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/11393560/Flu-jab-given-to-millions-is-useless.html

60 years ago my DH, then a 16yrold apprentice was offered the Polio vaccine at college. His mother refused consent as she had believed all the scare stories. He contracted Polio at 17, the only new case in the city, (thought to have contracted it at the Scout's International Jubilee Jamboree at Sutton Coalfield) and has had to live and work with a disability the rest of his life. Thankfully he did not infect anyone else. In fact he was the last patient in the polio isolation ward which then closed.

We have had our flu & pneumonia jabs, our DDs and DGC have had everything they were offered - you know it makes sense!

It's not a bad reaction that concerns me. A friend's sister, who works in a scientific/medical research field, warned her that, though it might help prevent flu, there are elements of it that are very harmful in other ways. This makes me hesitate.

I've been having mine for several years due to medical conditions - never had to pay as I was eligible for free one. I have twice had "flu" - it is very debilitating (not just a bad cold - you can't get out of bed & feel like death)

Had Pneumonia jab about 5 years ago which is supposed to give life-long protection - guess what, 5 weeks in Hospital last year with severe Pneumonia (I was only 60) I took months to fully recover

I would any-one to have "flu jab" - I do feel "under the weather" for a few days & injection site may be a bit tender afterwards but far better than getting flu

I probably won't have the flu vaccine. I appreciate some people think this is anti-social and I am putting others at risk. I would point out that 'flu is substantially different to the other illnesses mentioned such as smallpox. They are specific and individual, the term 'flu denotes a range of illnesses which vary and in fact change from year to year. The 'flu vaccine is a scientific 'best guess' about what types of flu may be around in any one year. So you may think you are protected, but the 'flu you encounter may be a strain which wasn't in your vaccine. There appears also to be considerable confusion about colds and flu and this is understandable, the symptoms are similar, although 'flu is much worse. Both are viruses and both have variations. The reason there is no cold vaccine is because it has over 250 variations.
In my opinion it is better to know you are at risk, take precautions and act if you feel ill, than to imagine you are protected, encounter a different type, and become very ill because you didn't take it seriously

Have never posted before but just to say I had flu jab 2 winters ago & have been ill ever since. Always feel as if I have got the flu. Horrendous cough, runny nose, achy limbs. Have seen every specialist sometimes NHS sometimes private no-one can give me a diagnosis.If I could put the clock back no way would I have had it. There are always side effects for some people and you don't know till you have had the jab. My symptons began within 24 hours & and I am now dreading this winter.

Since the flu virus enters the body by the nose or mouth, I am not convinced that applying tea tree oil to the feet will stop its ravages, any more than wedging a paracetamol tablet between the toes will cure a headache.

In the laboratory it has a mild effect as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, but it doesn't seem to have been proved definitely effective in real patients. I don't think I shall be relying on it to protect me from the flu - the flu jab may sometimes have side effects, but the bad effects of the disease itself are proportionately more frequent and more severe.

"A wealth of in vitro data now supports the long-held beliefs that TTO has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Despite some progress, there is still a lack of clinical evidence demonstrating efficacy against bacterial, fungal, or viral infections."
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/

I had swine flu radialnan and wish I had been offer the jab

I am 68 and just had it for th first time. I don't k is if it is true but I had mine because "it is important to protect others". . We have babies in the family.

I have been getting flu jab for years, as I have underlying medical conditions and flu can kill. I had jab last week and felt under the weather for a few days, but it is better than dying from flu.

Get it! I always used to be ill with flu over Christmas. Now I might have a bit of a cold but I don't need bed or hospitalisation.

I've had the flu jab every year for about 7 years with either no reaction or a very slight one. Had the pneumonia one this year and got a large, hot, red and painful lump on my arm which lasted a few days. However you only have to have the pneumonia jab once. My DH died very suddenly two years ago of pneumonia at only 64 so I reckon a few days discomfort is a small price to pay for staying alive.

I'm glad I read this thread. I had no idea you could be protected against shingles. I've been an ostrich about my health - grip wood- because I've been healthy by and large. Just palpitations, which I cope with, and there doesn't seem to be any underlying physical reason for them. I try and stay as far from the doctors surgery and the NHS as possible.
I shall go and ask about both injections tomorrow and stop being a wuss.

I'm going to try Tea Tree on the feet - great idea!