flu jab

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Never had flu at 76. Rarely catch a cold.
My worst winter EVER was several years ago after a flu jab. Was afflicted with one URTI or another the whole winter Several months of that was enough to put me off the jab for ever

I had flu about 6 years ago (so did mt BF/Carer) and it was like the blind leading the blind for about 3 months. Both us were so ill we ended up in hospital and BF couldn't work for 4 months. From what I remember, I have never felt so ill. So the flu jab every time for me; I am willing to gamble that they have the right strain this year, as I also have health conditions I get it free, so does BF on age grounds. Jab was 3 weeks ago, felt groggy for a couple of days, but then I often do, so no saying if the jab was the cause.

Definitely get one. I work in a shop and customers are always passing germs over with their cash!! I had dreadful flu a few Xmas's ago and was terribly ill. Missed all of Xmas. I have had flu jabs ever since and been absolutely fine.

As the strains used in the vaccine are not live I don't understand why people then 'have a bad cold/feel groggy' etc.
I stopped reading potential side effects of meds because I think I just thought myself into having them. I know I can be suggestible! The other aspect is that the vaccine takes 2-3 weeks to become effective. If people get colds immediately after the jab they were going to get them anyway as they must already be incubating them. Get the jab!

I have asthma and am very grateful to get a flu injection each year. I have never had anything more than a slightly warm arm as a result. Rather that than risk real flu, which is a killer, though the injection does not guarantee protection as no one can predict which strain of flu might cause problems in any year.

I've been having the 'Flu jab for several years without a problem. I also had the one off pneumonia vaccination a few years ago. Again no problem

Would highly recommend that you do both.

Had my flu jab a couple of weeks ago and had no reaction. Had my pneumonia a few years ago and was very glad as I had a bad dose of pneumonia when pregnant with my youngest (40 years ago). Just received a letter from surgery to say I am eligible for a shingles jab, which I will go and get. DH had shingles 30 years ago and was very very ill so I am taking no chances. Its up to individuals whether they have these injections but IMO its better to play safe than risk a debilitating illness later in life.

should read "had my pneumonia jab"

If you have reaction to the jab just imagine how ill you would be if it was flu!

Oh thank you all for your views. Im 64 quite healthy so always declined the jab.am still not really sure but think possibly will have one cos would be scared at my age of getting flu.Had it about 35yrs ago AWFUL and not sure could cope with it now!!!

When I had my flu jab a few weeks ago, the nurse said I can have a shingles jab as well but to leave a month between.

I have made an appointment to have it as I know people who have had shingles and they all say it is horrible.

Most of the common symptoms that appear after the jab are because the body's own immune system has learnt from it and is pouring out defences to the dead virus it contains - the same defences that will be able to come into play all the faster if/when they encounter the flu virus for real, and either kill the infection outright or make sure that it isa weaker attack than it would otherwise have been.

Look on the sore arm, the headache and so on as proof positive that the immune system has got the message and is marshalling the troops. Much like testing your smoke alarm regularly to be sure that it will work if you DO need it.

I too am first in line, having had really bad flu several years ago. It was an experience I never wish to repeat. I seem to be one of the lucky people not to suffer reactions to any vaccinations (and I have had lots for overseas travel).