Can anyone shed light on this year’s flu vaccine?

I had my flu jab last week at my local pharmacy, they did say the over 65s one had an extra component this year, our Drs have a flu clinic on a saturdayb morning, but chemist much closer to me,so easier as i dont drive and long walk to Drs
Was told out Drs had run out of the vaccine
It wasnt explained what was extra though
No ill effects at all

3 in 1 has type A x 2 and type B x 1, 4 in 1 has type A x 2 and type B x 2.
Adults normally catch type A and children type B. So adults usually get the 3 in 1. Children get the live vaccine which is more effective.
Last year one of the type B flu viruses mutated fast and hit many adults so a lot of people were off work and some very ill. This is why there is now a 4 in 1.
There is not enough money to give it to everyone so that is why not everyone is getting it. This is straight from the vaccination team's training - slightly simplified but what we were told.

I normally have a notification from my GP to come for the flu vaccination. So far this year I have not. There is so much movement of GPs lately that I am not surprised. A couple of years ago the nurse decided using her own discretion to give me the Pneumonia and Shingles injections based on my medical history.

My two DGDs are having the nasal spray soon. They are Y2 and Y5.

I am completely flummoxed now, about the different types. I was given the quad type as I'm under 65 and my Dh had the triple as he's over 65.

A friend in London has been given the opposite - she's under 65 and got given the triple while the over 65's get the quad version!

Are people making this up as they go along?

I had the flu last year-was SO I’ll for about 10 days. There was no mistaking it for a heavy cold. Fainted twice, on one occasion landed face down and broke roots of front tooth! What a performance. And even worse missed birth of latest DGS. Thought he would be walking by the time I was able to meet him! So, having been offered flu jab by GP, will have it although not at the mo as I have a cold!

I rang my GPs office a couple of weeks ago to enquire about the flu jab. They are not even starting to give them until the beginning of November! They did say if I wanted it sooner I could use the local pharmacy. I was going to wait but have decided to have it done by the pharmacy on Monday. I do wonder why the GP practice are leaving it so late - saving money perhaps?

travelsafar flu knocks you off your feet, you will be ill in bed for at least week and feeling dead rough for another 2 or 3. A bad cold can make you feel rotten for a couple of days, but if you're able to function a bit it's not flu.

I'm not and never will have the flu vaccine. IMO it's unnecessary. I've never had flu and very rarely had a cold, certainly not one which kept me off work.

Our surgery and local pharmacy have run out of flu vaccine and won't have any until November!!! Didn't know there were different kinds and have no idea what I was given!
I was given mine when I went for a blood test, but DH who has CLL now has to wait!
I spent several days in bed after mine with temperature and feeling absolutely grotty and still don't feel 100% and have a cough a fortnight later.Probably coincidence.

The whole flu ordering process seems to have been a nightmare for GP practices, it is usually difficult, but not this bad. As others have said, the Trivalent protects against three flu viruses, and the Quadrivalent against four. The Trivalent has had an immune booster added. Your immune system starts to go downhill as you get older, so this was designed to give better protection to over 65s. Why they didn't just add the adjuvenant (immune booster) to the quadrivalent I don't know, but I'll guess it was something to do with cost! You can read about them here. www.doctorcall.co.uk/news/post/what-is-quadrivalent-flu-vaccine Personally I have gone for the quadivalent, happy to pay the £9 to Tesco for the extra protection instead of the over 65's freebie!

October last I received my annual flu injection I was in formed I was already protected against the dreaded chest infection. Four weeks later although never having been further than my local supermarket I went down with a chest infection that saw me receiving' home care' and intravenous antibiotics. Hospitals I was told, by the team who looked after me, were inundated with patients like myself.It took me until well into the new year to feel myself again. Should I still have this years flu injection? or keep away from all human contact until spring.

My local Tesco* jabbed me with the trivalent version of Fluad a few days ago.

Several of us were queueing and of different ages so we had to fill out different forms. I gave the same information three times on three different forms!

Followed by a day with an aching arm and then a day of diarrhea.

It’s seems a lot more active this year than in previous years.

* my GP said I’d have to wait until November.

Here is some good info about this years flu vaccine.

www.gov.uk/government/news/new-flu-vaccine-available-this-winter-for-those-aged-65-and-over

I don't know whether mine was 3 in 1 or 4 in 1 (I am 73 and in England) but I had the most awful reaction, for the first time ever. Had it on Saturday and was streaming with cold by the end of the day (first cold for nearly two years). I have been really poorly but had to go ahead with uncancellable engagements. Husband has now caught it from me. I can only assume it's a very strong vaccine this year.

Had mine on Wednesday after getting a text from GP. Sent home from work after lunch and ar home today. I feel vile. Raging temperature, diarrhoea swollen and sore arm. No idea which one I had but I’m under 60.

It's not that old people don't need that 4th vaccine, but the adjuvanted one isn't yet made in the quad version and on balance they decided it's better we're properly immunised against three of them than not properly immunised against any of the four

Our Dr operates a conveyor belt system for flu vacs.in one door - jab- h. behind- jab-assistant writing something down,out another door followed closely by NEXT.

There is a story going around that some people are getting a placebo vac. my arm has always been sore after and I've felt a bit off colour for 2-3 days after, nothing like that for me this year but h. had those symptoms as usual, seems a few people are saying the same as this.

Very useful thread - thanks all for the info.

For anyone interested in the pneumonia jab: DH and I not yet old enough to qualify for free NHS one, but went to Boots and paid (£70 ( and yes you get boots advantage points for it) for the private one you can have earlier. No side effects that either of us detected. It is complementary to the NHS jab, protects against a different set of bugs, and we will still go for the free NHS one when we are 65. The pharmacist said the training they have received is that in fact it gives protection for life even though the leaflet says it lasts 20 years. Sounds good to me. The plan is to stay healthy!

I had my jab a week ago - the 3 in 1 as I'm over 65 - at the walk-in clinic that my dr's practice hold twice around this time of year. Last year, I was the only person in there (I arrived just after they opened) but this year it was packed - I think that a lot of people were ill last winter, and are taking no chances..!
They were very well organised - an assembly line of nurses and doctors giving the jabs and two receptionists to marshall the crowds
My arm was sore for 24 hours (I don't usually get any reaction) but nothing apart from that - well worth it for something that could save my life (I have asthma, so could really do without a chest infection). I appreciate our NHS so much...!!!

You cannot get flu from the flu jab. Any symptoms post-jab will either be your body's immune system kicking in or a cold/flu you picked up before the protection has had a chance to work.

The jab doesn't provide protection until 2-3 weeks afterwards so it's very possible to pick up a bug in that time.

I enquired about the “new” vaccine at my surgery for my DH who is diabetic and was told they only have supplies of the old one and are unlikely to get the new one this winter as supplies have run out. Incidentally we have to wait 2 weeks for an appointment to have the flu jab We live in Wales

Would just emphasise by repeating what Suedonim has said. When you have the 'flu jab (whichever type), the protection does not kick in for about a fortnight afterwards. Cannot get flu or a cold, etc from this jab, but as your immune system may be working hard, anything you have picked up before getting the jab, may make you feel unwell.
There does seem to be some shortages of the over-65's vaccine, no idea why. The chemist where I normally have mine each year has not even contacted me yet - but I did get it done at the pharmacy at my local Sainsbury, and they said they were running out fast. Had no effect at all from it, not even a slightly sore arm.
I live by myself and really fear getting influenza. Nothing at all like a cold, heavy or otherwise. Just feeling so very ill and unable to move or get out of bed. Getting to my en-suite toilet feels virtually impossible.
Must say, have not had flu since I started having these jabs each year.

Our local practice had to postpone the mass vaccination day for a week because they hadn't got hold of stocks on time. But hundreds of us queued up and were duly jabbed.

Both myself and the OH had the one off pneumonia injection this year despite not having breathing or chest problems. Seems they are giving to all people 70 to 75 (I think thats the age range) As for the flu injection will get around to it sometime when not so busy.

Had mine yesterday , no idea which one ! It was a case of next please , left arm , thank you bye ! so no chance to ask which . Can't find the place on my arm , so seems no reaction so far