Flu jabs

I hope I am forgiven a (lengthy) cut n paste jobbie but I think the sentiments are worth sharing. It is by a nurse in the US but I don’t think her experience is any less relevant because she is in the UK.

Last night I shared a post on Facebook that said 'Hey A**hole, the flu shot isn't about you." Sitting here soaking up every ounce of caffeine before night shift, I figured I should elaborate.

The flu shot is for Influenza, a severe respiratory illness that can lead to death. Have you ever had it? I have, and it's awful. You spike fevers, every bone and muscle in your body aches, and no matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to catch your breath.

You get the flu shot not always for you, but for those around you.

For the grandparents, whose bodies are not what they used to be, and they just can't kick an illness in the butt like when they were young.

For the 30 year old, with HIV or AIDS, who has a weakened immune system.

For the 25 year old mother of 3 who has cancer. She has absolutely zero immune system because of chemotherapy.

For the newborn baby who was just welcomed into the world, and isn't quite strong enough to fight off infections on his own

For the nurses and doctors that take care of you. If they get sick, they can't go to work and take care of the countless patients that need them.

For the 50 year old husband who needs a medication for his chronic illness, and that medication also weakens his immune system.

For the pregnant mum that has been trying to get pregnant for years, and now she's trying to stay healthy for her unborn baby.

For the single dad who can't take any more sick days and needs to provide for his kids.

For the 7 year old boy that just wants to play with his friends. But he has a disease that puts him at a higher risk for infection, so he has to stay inside.

The flu shot is NOT always about you. It's about protecting those around you, who cannot always protect themselves.

I have been in the room as a patient has passed away, because of influenza. I have watched patients struggle to breathe, because of influenza. I have busted my butt to provide Tylenol, warm blankets, nebulizers, etc. to keep that patient comfortable and fighting a terrible respiratory infection

Herd immunity is a thing. Influenza killing people is a thing. You getting the flu shot, should be a thing.

Nurse Bitz

(via Amanda Catherine Bitz)

Sorry -“ because she is not in the UK.

Thank you for that, Maw B., that certainly is food for thought.
I get the flu jag annually through my retirement job of supply teaching, as I am not yet 65. I get a voucher from the school office for a free vaccination in the local Lloyd's Pharmacy, never had any problems although I have an autoimmune condition.
I have never had flu thankfully, but several years ago I developed pleurisy after radioactive iodine treatment for overactive thyroid. I was ill for weeks, felt that I had aged ten years, so if that is anything like flu, I wish to avoid it, for my own sake and the sake of those around me.

I was really frightened when I had flu. I felt that this could be it. It's hard to convey how awful it was. I have never been as ill as that. I've insisted on the jab ever since.

Surgery rang to remind me to book a flu jab despite the fact that at 64 I’m not yet eligible. I think it’s a ruse to get me through the door as I haven’t seen the GP for at least 6 years (and then he was useless) and don’t intend to go again unless absolutely necessary. I am firmly of the view that once they get you in their clutches it’s a slippery slope towards pill taking and hypochondria.

The last time I had flu I was extremely ill and my mother died four days into the illness. I had to get out of bed and sort things out, I really thought I was going to die myself I felt so rotten.
I have gladly accepted the vaccination every year since I was eligble.

I had my flu jab last weekend - no ill-effects, not even a sore arm. I think it is important to have, especially for those of us who are older and live alone.

Someone explained the anti-vaxxers logic as thinking a bridge is only 99.99% safe so they would rather swim a wide river.

I am not a cold or flu person, rarely ill. So i would not have a flu jab, I'm not convinced healthy people benefit.. Research is patchy to start.

I have the flu vax just around the corner at my local pharmacy ,because it is a long walk to the Drs and i don't drive
As yet though ,[hope i don't jinx myself] i have never had the flu,or many colds
Will be going next wednesday
I do sometimes wonder if i need it though,as normally very healthy

We're being offered a Pneumonia jab as well as the flu jab!

blondnana- I was always healthy too. Not having the vaccination is just whistling in the dark.
Read MawBroon's post. ?

theretheredear and tidyskatemum please, please read my post.
It beggars belief that given the opportunity to defend ourselves and the rest of the community against this potentially lethal virus, there are still those whose heads are firmly in the sand.

To all those who say they're very healthy - everyone is healthy until they're not. I was healthy, not having had a cold in years, until flu hit me on Christmas afternoon 2017. I went to bed and didn't get up again until 2018. It took a good three weeks to recover and I was terrified I had infected my four week old granddaughter who was staying with us.

Thankfully, she was fine, but as I neither wanted to put her at risk or to endure flu myself again I paid for the jab last year. This year I qualified for a free jab and also the pneumonia one. No after effects except for mildly sore arms which quickly resolved.

Had mine last Tuesday. Easy peasy and no sore arm

I had a doctor's app yesterday and she offered to do my flu jab and I was happy to get it over with. I have it every year and never have any problems - except maybe a bit of a painful arm - but that didn't happen this year.

Calling all those who are so healthy that they are not going to take advantage of the FREE flu jab - please read the MawB Thu 10-Oct-19 21:24:40 post and think again. Think of those who are NOT as healthy as you, whose immune systems are compromised and who will catch it from you if you get it and it spreads around. - Perhaps you will be OK (you'll feel like hell, but you'll pull through) but they could be so ill that their lives are at risk.

And you don't know which of the hundreds of people you come into contact with each day come into the vulnerable categories listed by Nurse Bitz.

Jane10 oh i will definitely have the flu vaxx, i have a friend who rattles on about mercury in it etc, but i wouldn't risk not having it, would be just my luck if i didn't to get a first bad dose of flu
Re;the pneumonia vaxx, i was told i had had it previously,and i don't think i did,the nurse who was giving my my flu jab was called out of the room just after giving me the flu one, but it was on my records as having had it
I don't remember having 2 jabs, and when i told my Dr he said can't risk giving it to now in case you did have it, because the nurse recorded it that i had

I am getting my flu jab on Monday at the GP clinic. What on earth is a cold or flu person? I have never had the flu but reading about the suffering of those who have, I will take every precaution to avoid it. Healthy people benefit from not getting the flu and becoming less healthy as a result.
Not to worry, those who think they are too healthy to get flu or that going to the doctor makes you a hypochondriac, we will protect you with our responsible choices.
Thank you, Maw, for your post.

Parsley- Well put!

Too healthy to get flu? It is no respecter of persons; least of all the most vulnerable in our communities, as Maw rightly points out.

Those who make such statements have clearly never had real flu.

Mine’s tomorrow 10.40am.

Mine’s tomorrow at 9:15am! Maw good post ??

Not so old, what a terrible experience for you.

I don’t think that I belong to a very vulnerable group even though I’m 66 I’m hale and hearty. However I’m having mine tomorrow. If enough of us decline the jab then the more vulnerable will be at greater risk.

You Pamela, WWmk2 and me can be the ‘flu musketeers tomorrow.
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