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

We were booked at Boots. Pharmacist running late with previous couple. Saw young pharmacist appear from consulting room and run round shop looking panicked. He was getting a bottle of water. Woman appeared looking white as a sheet clutching the water. We gave up and came home. Will book in at surgery instead for a qualified nurse! Were we over reacting, have others found pharmacists to be ok?

Tesco’s pharma did a great job this year, except for their triplicated paperwork.

My GP was hopeless.

We went to see the doctor last Friday and we received our flu vaccination prescriptions with advice not to go to the pharmacist to have then until the temperature cools down quite a bit. Been in the 30s this week so hopefully it will be cooler soon as the prescriptions are only valid for a month.

Have been having 'flu jabs for years and for the first time this year I have a slightly swollen and itchy arm. I was 75 in August.

Tesco pharmacist absolutely fine as was Boots previously. Had one at Lloyds Chemists some years ago who took me into side room and instructed me to take my top off! I refused as I was wearing my normal 'flu jab short sleeved top' and he made sure it really hurt. Heck of a bruise so went back to complain to be told that he 'is just a locum'!

You would know when you have the flu, you wont be able to lift your head off the pillow. In all the years I was married to my late husband (43) only twice was he confined to bed with illness and both times it was the flu.Flu knocks the stuffing out of you for quite a few weeks after.I always have a smirk to myself when someone says to me "oh I had the flu last week" I say to myself oh yes,ha ha.

If you have your jabs at the chemists ,they get paid for it just like your Doctors do ,so your depriving you surgery of much needed funds.

Well, the GPs cannot expect to earn anything unless they maintain their stock of vaccine.

Just like a supermarket they are expected to fulfill the requirements of their customers.

Our GP has a yellow page of A3 paper posted with 12pt text that we’re all expected to read. It’s just one long excuse explaining why we must all be patient.

I decided to reduce the GP’s workload instead.

I had my flu jab in September, text from Surgery to remind me to make appointment. I am 63 & have Epilepsy & Type 2 Diabetes. At my Surgery it was under 65 to the left, over 65 to the right. I had a sore arm for a few days but this happens most years. I have been having the flu jab for about 8 years now.

I had my pneumonia jab 7 years ago, I still contracted pneumonia 3 years ago & spent 5 weeks in Hospital. I can't afford to contract flu as I live on my own (widow) & have twice had flu when my DD was school age.

I'm super careful of handwashing in bug season (winter) and shop in early morning before stores are crowded. I do carry bacterial wipes for supermarket trolley handles and use automatic doors where possible. As soon as I get home, I wash my hands and face with soap.
I find those simple steps help to keep me healthy, not jabs.

As I'm unable to have the spray up the nose that they give children because it's only licensed for under 18s, and the nurses will not give the jab anywhere other than the arm I will be refusing it this year. I cannot afford another frozen shoulder!!! I haven't fully recovered from the last one following the flu jab.

I had my 'flu jab yesterday, and now have a tender, raised lump on my arm. There are already shortages of the vaccine in our area too.

I went to an interesting Pint of Science presentation earlier this year about the research into how/ why the ability to fight/ recover from infections changes as we age. Apparenty our bodies get less efficient of getting rid of the
defunct antibodies after an infection so next time we get something the body produces fewer antibodies as it thinks there are sufficient..even though the old ones are no longer working properly!

It still makes sense to do the hand-washing etc because a flu jab doesn't protect you from the common cold. Those who refuse the flu jab, or can't have it for some mdical reason, should take extra care, but they will also enjoy a degree of "herd immunity" bestowed on them by those of us who have our jabs and keep the incidence of flu in the population down overall. I think we're very fortunate to have the vaccine; if. no one had the jab and we all just relied on washing and disinfecting, there would be much worse outbreaks with serious complications for many old, young and vulnerable people.

I love your world * Gabriella* .. so organised and almost perfection!

That's very interesting PECS (re the anti-bodies)

I doubt that reliance on handwashing and bacterial wipes would have eradicated smallpox, reduced incidences of polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles and other diseases.

However, influenza is different in that new strains emerge and mutate.

jalima it was a very interesting piece of research from Surrey Uni. Pint of Science is a national programme where researchers give presentations of their work in pubs. Look out for it next year.

I had mine yesterday, I've got a blotchy red rash around the injection site and a hot face. But I'm weird anyway

I will, thanks PECS - however, may not be in a pub near us.

Which vaccine did you have LadyGracie?

Jalima I had FluAd for the over 65’s, my arm felt heavy last night, it still does, DH hasn’t even got a mark!

I had my flu jab this morning (Saturday) at my G P special clinic from 9 - 1. There had been notices up in the waiting room for the last month. I received a letter to make a doc appointment about blood results, and the flu clinic details were also on this. I arrived at 10.30 and joined a queue of approx 80 people. Much busier than last year.
It took about 20 minutes to get to the head of the queue. No bother I just read my Kindle. Five docs on duty, in and out in less than a minute.... Next please. Very efficient.I
In my way out the queue was even longer.

Six hours later I can feel a slight tenderness on at the site of the jab. No idea which one I got.

I've still got a slightly bruised feeling in my arm but no other side effects at all. Dh has had no after effects at all.

Sorry, that should have been a not a grin!

My local pharmacist - no form filling, he filled in the info on his computer Just let him get on and give me the vaccine recommended for my age. Nice chat. Week later I went to have the pneumonia jab. (I'm having cancer treatment so anything that can protect me from a chest infection and possible hospital admission...) Flu jab no soreness. P jab - really, really bruised feeling arm for a couple of days. All done now.