Has anyone got flu at the moment after having a flu jab?

A rash is unusual I would phone the surgery for advice on those symptoms!

Nannyliz Y
You mention a 'cough' Are you sure you don't have a chest infection.? I have had flu jabs for many years. Never had flu but have had chest infections needing antibiotics and hospitalised on two occasions as these turned into pneumonia.

I think it's terribly unwise to have it. I used to work with a frail young asthmatic girl who was advised it - she was stricken for weeks after. And of course she might never have caught flu anyway! Plus there's multiple strains - you could get jabbed, be ill ... and still catch another variant! Would never consider it.

What you have is a strain of flu but not the one you were vaccinated against. This cough virus lasts around 3 weeks sometimes longer. I am at end of fourth week with just the occasional cough now. I lost my voice totally at the beginning and had a lot of time off of work. I found spoons of honey soothed my throat and the coughing. Wishing you well x

It was said on the radio that the flu jab was not working for the over 75s? My Bridge partner who is never poorly has been absent for a month because of this virus.

I had the flu jab on 19th September. I developed a cough on New Year's Day, then had a positive throat swab for flu on 5th January. I thought I'd just reacted badly to a viral laryngitis because I've been on chemotherapy. Symptoms in order of emergence: cough, headache, pharyngitis, laryngitis, fever (on day 4, went up to 38.6!), shivers, diarrhoea. Still have the cough, and only just feeling like food (I lost 3kg). On the topic of severity of symptoms, there is a lot of misinformation around. You can be a carrier of flu and be totally unaware of it, and anything through a mild sore throat/headache, to severe illness and death. Generally, you don't have much of a runny nose, as you would with a cold. The symptoms (yes, including diarrhoea) are on the NHS Choices website. The incubation period is 1 - 4 days and you are contagious from 5 - 7 days.

I had the cough virus in December and it knocked me out for over 3 weeks, definitely NOT flu though! I have only ever had genuine flu once in my life and can quite understand why it is a killer! People are way too eager to cite flu when they feel awful - especially men ??

The NHS Choices website lists the flu symptoms. I believe you can have flu but with different levels of severity. Worst you'll not get out of bed, but lesser form (mine) you'll struggle along doing 50% of normal stuff, managing the symptoms and napping a lot. Mine started beginning of November. it's definitely not a cold. I have the odd day when I think it's starting to go but trying to be slightly active just sets it all off again. 7 day course of AB's did nothing but maybe prevented my cough and earache getting worse. My work sickness rules mean I've had to continue going in but anyone I've sat next to has gone down with it, although gotten better before me.

Trouble is the jabs only protect against 3 strains of flu, the cold viruses arn’t Included, and one strain of the Aussie flu wasn’t included in the NHS vaccine. I had mine mid October.

I had a cold before xmas, for the first couple of days I went from burning hot to shivering, and then a cough that’s only just gone. It’s blooming miserable. Sympathy to everyone who is feeling rotten. Roll on summer

First - really sorry to hear so many of you have been really ill and feeling so bad.

But really - why the faith in flu vaccines? They are clearly not that effective and they used to (not sure now) contain mercury as a preservative!!! They do make money for the pharmaceutical companies however.

That's not to say that you should never have a vaccination as there are obviously some diseases, those with a high fatality rate for example, that you would want to insure against as much as possible.

So... my personal choice is to have the pneumonia vaccination but not the flu jabs my doctor keeps pressing on me. I note that "partners in doctors’ surgeries receive financial incentives according to the percentage of their patient population they immunise".

The body itself is what fights disease and sometimes it does need assistance. But in the main it fights flu well - even though the patient might disagree! It seems to me that it is more important to eat well and exercise so your own immune system is prepared for viruses etc.

I'm with grannypauline on this one - I don't have 'flu jabs as I think they are not very effective. As others have said, there are so many different strains of 'flu about that having the vaccine will not necessarily prevent you from getting the 'flu. Without wishing to sound smug, I have never had the 'flu so perhaps I have some immunity. A friend of mine, a former nurse, never has the jab as she's convinced she is immune from nursing so many people with it in the past. Having said all that, my sympathies for all who are suffering - I remember my mother getting 'flu when I was a youngster and she was convinced that she was going to die...not very edifying for me though!

Getting flu after a flu jab doesn’t mean the jab is the cause. It depends on the strain of flu that is around at the time. I understand that the health service monitor and then make a guesstimate of which flu strain is going to “attack” and issue the flu jab accordingly. It can never be an exact science, coupled with every human being different.

grannypauline, I do have to disagree with you here.

Although I note that you do say it is your personal choice not to have the ‘flu jab, there is an issue for the jab giving ‘herd’ immunity during a ‘flu outbreak. Those more vulnerable of us (I am in week three of a viral infection which may or not may not be ‘flu’ - I really don’t care what it is called!) need added protection. If many in the community are offered and given a jab it will protect a greater segment of the population.

I can’t discuss the semantics of the particular vaccine given this year, only that predictions were given in good faith. There is no crystal ball.

I am on round two of antibiotics, round two of steroids, should have gone to A and E as my breathing (this infection has exacerbated my asthma and I have had ongoing breathing problems for a fortnight-can’t do a thing) has been at the lowest acceptable limit.

If people with your views think the body can fight off an infection with good food and a fitness regime, I have to say that you are wrong. I was exceptionally fit just before this illness and if a virus can do this to me, I can’t imagine how some elderly fare when they just don’t have the energy to cough to clear the thick gunk from their lungs which continues day and night, every few seconds. There is no respite. This can be a killer. Real ‘flu is a killer.

Finally, have you considered why ‘financial incentives’ should be given to a medical practice to immunise their patients. I wonder if it would be because it is actually beneficial to them?

I feel you are also suggesting that by accepting a ‘financial incentive’, a medical practice is doing something sneaky.

We had been on a cruise which ended with 3 days in New York. My poor husband did not leave the hotel bedroom! He was so ill- definitely ‘flu. We paid 150 dollars to extend our stay for the day before leaving for the airport. Horrible experience. We fly to Cape Town next week so hope we escape the “lurgy”

I had the same experience last year. About 7/10 days after the vaccination I developed a fever and achy flu like symptoms. Felt too awful to get out of bed and eventually went to docs and was diagnosed with a chest infection. Have never had anything like this before, so this year decided against the vaccine. Anecdotally I have heard many similar stories.

I got it on December 13th after a hospital visit so I must have picked it up there. Fever, incredible weakness, crippling joint pain which confused things for a few weeks. GPs ordered me to stay in bed so Christmas and New Year passed in a blur. 6 weeks later I am still very weak, too weak to stay out of bed. I cannot text, hold phone for long, I can type a bit on my laptop set up over my bed. GP still says stay in bed, keep warm, drink a lot and "we'll see you when you feel stronger" unless anything develops. Like many I had the two big flues in my childhood so this one is a completely different and a particularly aggressive one. I don't have a flu jab, not advised due to an already compromised immune system.

Further to above, although I had (confirmed by throat swab) flu after the earlier jab, I think it might well have mitigated the effects. I agree with Candelle about herd immunity too. People have a responsibility to the elderly, young and otherwise vulnerable. Having the pneumonia jab is only be effective against pneumoncoccus, which is a bacterial infection, and will definitely not stop you getting flu.

Adenovirus is doing the rounds at the moment. Sore throat and cough which can be severe enough to lead to pneumonia so while not flu, it can make you extremely poorly.

Had flu jab back in December. Two days later came down with a virus that laid me low for over a week. Last week think it was adenovirus. Felt awful Tuesday and while I’m back at work, have a horrible cough and still not feeling anything like what I should.

And the snow not helping blarghhh

I had the flu jab, like I do every year, but this year, I've got the cold/virus from Hell ! I just can't shake it off, the one consolation is that if I hadn't had the jab, the cold/virus could be much worse, as I am Asthmatic, so could easily have ended up in Hospital.

I ado feel it’s everybodys duty to protect the more vulnerable to have the flu vaccine.
I do as I work in healthcare and I know it’s not an exact science there are many strains of the flu virus.
I would also advocate the Pneumonia virus as it’s a one off jab.
So many very poorly people around currently.

A lot of people who didn't have the vaccine got flu, too.

Contrary to GrannyPauline's post, I think the flu vaccine has worked very efficiently for us. I am the only one in this house who didn't have the vaccine (I don't fall into at risk categories) and I am also the only one who has been laid low by what I am pretty sure is flu. I was in bed for four days, when I never go to bed when ill, and I couldn't have cared less about a £50 note or even a £500 note.

We had ten people here over Xmas/NY and the only other person who has been ill is my youngest Dd, who did have the vaccine, but she wasn't as poorly as me. No one else has had so much as a sniffle.

I'm going to pay for the jag next winter, I don't want this again, thank you!

Now I know why I do not have the flu jab as it does not cover every strain

My h has had a cold for a few days, keeps on coming over very hot and then shivery. We have both had the flu jabs
I think he’s got slight symtoms if flu. He also has morphin patches for his arthritis only a low dose, wondering if that’s causing problems for him as well.

Sometimes I get flu-like syptoms after a flu jab. I am hoping to be luckier than usual this time as I had the jab this morning.