flu jab

Daphne the problem with 'flu is that it is not a single illness like diptheria it is a virus that mutates and changes over time. The vaccine is a "best guess" about which strains will be active in any year. There is no vaccine for a cold because over 250 variations of the cold virus are in circulation. So you may think your flu vaccine protects you but it may not. The argument about wiping it out like diptheria is unfounded. In fact there is some evidence that the virus is mutating more rapidly.

Nevertheless its still worth getting the jab!

I had a flu jab 4 weeks ago at my local chemist. Unlike previous years the injection really hurt, I think the pharmacist thought I was being a wimp. I am now unable to lift my arm into certain positions and it is very painful - it would seem he jabbed a nerve. According to an article I googled this is rare, but becoming more frequent as the flu jabs are becoming more widely available at different places. Haven't been to Docs as they are in competition with the local chemist and will probably say I should have used their service. Wonder if anyone has had this happen?

I had my Flu jab ! this morning. But it wasn't a jab ! I looked away and was expecting the sting, which never came. I wonder how she did that? I felt nothing. I was also asked whether I had had the pneumococcal vaccine. I said that I have had the pneumonia jab, and was told, " no you haven't' , there isn't one. ? as there are so many strains of pneumonia. Anyway, what I evidently had was the pneumoccocal one. At the moment I am fine, no sore arm, and hope it continues so.

So what's a pneumococcal jab I was told by the nurse I had had a pneumonia jab

I didn't use my chemist as I didn't want the money to go from my surgery into corporate hands

I don't think swine flu is covered by your annual jab daphneboon as it's a totally different strain You were probably just lucky you did nt all get it
Colds are not helped by the flu jab they are different

Swine flu is covered according to the leaflet I was given when I got my jab.

The year in question we were given the swine flu jab in addition to the regular one, Bluebelle although I think DH either had a "special" one or have it at a different time because of being on immunosuppressants. No way we would have trusted to luck in his case.

I have had mine. I am pretty sure anyone who has had real flu would have a flu jab, any reaction to the jab is peanuts compared to flu, it is not a trivial illness. Husband pays for his, I am old enough for a freely

Don't be so sure Sillyoldfool I had 'real 'flu' and lost a week of my life. Yes it was awful. I had the 'flu jab and my reaction was not 'peanuts' I was ill for two whole months with fever, sweating, exhaustion, rashes....couldn't do anything, go anywhere, if I got out of bed I was sick and dizzy.

It is probably karma as I used to tell other people they couldn't possibly have such a reaction, and trivialise their experience. I know better now. There's just too much anecdotal evidence for all this to be coincidence, but of course it cannot be investigated by double blind trials, so it must be our imagination?

It's a bit like saying 'I cross the road every day and I've never been knocked over yet!' And yet people are....

Re mercury in the vaccine, see the NHS website
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/vaccine-ingredients.aspx

Under the heading: Thiomersal (mercury) in vaccines it states that

Thiomersal is a preservative that contains small amounts of mercury. It's used to prevent the growth of bacteria or fungi in the vaccine.

Some vaccines also contain aluminium.

Dated 19/02/2016

Mercury also in tooth fillings...