Gransnet forums

Health

Flu Vaccine

(48 Posts)
JessM Fri 21-Sept-18 13:05:13

Vaccine now available - this year with 2 varieties. One for older people on NHS and the other for anyone else. I paid for one for years when self-employed. And I'll be getting my free one in local pharmacy next week. Avoids queues and hanging around in surgery waiting room. My local pharmacy have a cheap offer for first few weeks of £8.99 for those who pay. I'm champing at the bit to have mine as I am having treatment for breast cancer and my immune system is consequently weak. I wish the NHS would remind working people that for a small payment they can protect themselves. Even for the fittest people, influenza is a horrible illness that ruins best part of a month and sufferers would probably pay a tenner just to make it stop for a single hour. And if enough people got the jab it would reduce the spread of flu in the community and take some pressure off the NHS.

henetha Mon 24-Sept-18 10:21:37

I've had the flu jab for over 20 years now with never a bad reaction. I haven't had the flu either. But I realise it's not perfect. Some protection is surely better than none.

winterwhite Mon 24-Sept-18 11:09:24

Hope someone can put me right about this.
I thought that GP surgeries were paid/reimbursed for every flu jab (as for child inoculations?) and had come to anticipate the funding. Now feeling 'cut out' by pharmacies, wh are attractive because walk-in. Can't explain why some surgeries not offering it till November - seems daft.

JessM Wed 26-Sept-18 12:45:37

I think both surgeries and pharmacies have been offering flu jabs for years. Certainly the pay-for-yourself ones only in pharmacies. Boots have always been a book ahead system - you can do so online. Not sure how long pharmacies have been doing NHS but at least a couple of years in Wales.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 26-Sept-18 13:17:19

I have had mine at local pharmacy for the last 5 years, simply because the surgery times are not convenient for me.

I was unaware of the "funding" issue winterwhite, I will reconsider next year and try to make the surgery dates.

silverlining48 Sat 29-Sept-18 20:11:39

We had our over 65 flu jabs at the surgery today, and they had one shingles vaccination left so I got that too. When they get more dh will have his. No problem up to now, feeling fine.

Luckygirl Sat 29-Sept-18 20:38:20

Have had flu jab every year for decades - it used to be done at work. Since retiring I still have it - but sadly last year it did not protect from the strain of flu that I got!

Never had side effects.

Having it week after next; and had shingles job last Tuesday.

annodomini Sat 29-Sept-18 20:56:07

I joined a long but fast-moving queue to have my jab this morning. I've been having them for ever with no ill effects.

Floradora9 Sat 29-Sept-18 21:29:58

We had ours done at the GP's this morning . DH got the better one I got the bog standard one despite being diabetic the reason being he is six months older than me . He asked the GP if we could swap but that was refused .

harrigran Sun 30-Sept-18 09:41:11

DH and I are having ours next Thursday, the oldies version is not released for use until 1st October.

Floradora9 Sun 30-Sept-18 15:16:57

It is in use in Scotland now harrigran as DH got it . He now has a sore arm and I do not .

BlueBelle Sun 30-Sept-18 15:22:36

I had mine at the pharmacy, Boots has always been walk in in my town Jess and that’s what I did walk in off the street while shopping To have it at my doctors I had to wait till November and take a bus to get to it so unfortunately Boots won There was only one date at the doctors too so much easier to just call in whilst out shopping

silverlining48 Fri 05-Oct-18 19:49:59

I am wondering whether the nhs has to pay these private businesses if they vaccinate people. Just a thought as boots lloyds etc wouldnt do this for love.
I saw a notice in my surgery asking people to use the surgery. Does anyone know?

JessM Sat 06-Oct-18 17:01:58

GP surgeries are effectively private businesses, although some may be NHS run in some areas these days. There will be a set fee that doctors or pharmacists can charge for the free patients.

humptydumpty Sat 06-Oct-18 17:50:17

I read in the Times medical column that the main side effect of the triple vaccine is that the arm can be more painful than with the previous vaccine.

BlueSky Wed 10-Oct-18 21:59:28

I've so far resisted the flu vaccine as I'm worried about the possible side effects as I do react to a variety of things. Besides I can't remember when I last had the flu. But as a big birthday is coming up I've started to consider it but still very much in two minds....confused

MissAdventure Wed 10-Oct-18 22:03:19

I've never had the jab, but have been urged to have it because of my job.
I'm in a quandary about it.

lemongrove Wed 10-Oct-18 22:06:00

I always have mine, but try and arrange it around a quiet few days in case there is a reaction.
It’s worth having the pneumonia vaccine as well.

MawBroon Wed 10-Oct-18 22:06:04

Flu and shingles jabs today in the same (left) arm, as I have tendinitis in my right shoulder and intermittent trapped (I think) nerves down my right arm
Apart from not getting a sticker which I think I deserved, it was totally unremarkable. No sore arm, no symptoms and (dare I whisper this) my shoulder has been less painful than previously!

lemongrove Wed 10-Oct-18 22:07:24

Wot, no lollipop for being brave? shock

cornergran Wed 10-Oct-18 22:08:46

Had ours today. The oldies version, booked in at Boots as we couldn’t manage the surgery times. No side effects so far, have rarely had a reaction, sometimes a sore arm for a day or two but nothing to stop us getting on with life. I was an NHS employee do have had them for a good few years.

MawBroon Wed 10-Oct-18 22:16:20

No lemongrove sad

silverlining48 Thu 11-Oct-18 17:48:23

Have never had any trouble post flu jab and shingles equally non problematic. Long may that continue.