Flu jabs

Why is it too early? I had a text from my GP surgery a fortnight ago saying it was available and asking me to make an appointment. That's the usual procedure as far as I'm aware.

far too early surely? Or are people having it done so early as tgey fear it won't be available later?

I am one of those who has never had the flu jab. I used to be a teacher and the only time I ever got flu was when pupils came back from abroad bringing a new strain with them. I think I must have developed a strong immunity. If new strains come in, my thinking is that the current vaccines won’t protect me.

While it can be a bit hit or miss, overall it still lowers the risk.

I get mine every year because I'm a nurse. When I was in clinical practice, we had to have it, otherwise we would be off work without pay during an outbreak. Now that I teach nursing I still get it because I may be asked to teach a clinical course during flu season.

I had an appointment with GP on Monday, while I was there the nurse came and asked me if I would like my flu vaccine while I waited. I was happy to get it over with so early in the autumn. Shoulder was quite sore this time but otherwise fine.

So Agnurse, what is the point in having it then?I dont mean that sound cheeky. If you already have an autoimmune condition, will this not stimulate it well into overdrive? I wont be having it anyway, I was so ill with it the last time.

Vaccinating for many strains at once isn't harmful. You actually take in more pathogens through breathing and eating than you would ever be exposed to in a vaccine.

Usually, for developing flu vaccines, each hemisphere will keep stats on the strains that have been an issue for them during that season. They will then use that knowledge to develop vaccines for the other hemisphere's next flu season. (This can be done because each hemisphere has opposite seasons. Right now our southern friends are just coming into spring.) Unfortunately it can be a bit hit and miss, as they are relying on historical data.

Quadrivalent seems to suggest 4 different strains in the one,which once injected stimulates an immune response. Think I will pass. How many more strains are they going to put into this. What happens to people who already have an autoimmune condition, then this stimulates a reaction?

I very rarely get any sort of cold or flu, in fact I used to be a medical guinea pig at the Common Cold Research Centre and they couldn't infect me either (although maybe they gave me the placebo, it's all secret).

The first year I was eligible for a free flu jab, I had it, reluctantly and 2 months later got the worst bout of anything I've ever had, I even had to spend a day in bed !!

New Zealand buys the left-over serum from the UK, so that's made up of stuff to protect against Northern Hemisphere bugs, so not entirely suitable for people living near Antarctica! We tend to get what's sweeping down from Asia.

All except me

This is the explanation from the NHS website, dogsdinner. I freely admit that I haven't a clue what it means, but you and others might.

adults aged 18 to 64 who are either pregnant, or at increased risk from flu because of a long-term health condition, are offered a quadrivalent injected vaccine – the vaccine offered will have been grown either in eggs or cells (QIVe or QIVc), which are considered to be equally suitable

adults aged 65 and over will be offered either an adjuvanted trivalent injected vaccine grown in eggs (aTIV) or a cell-grown quadrivalent injected vaccine (QIVc) – both vaccines are considered to be equally suitable.

Dogsdinner , can I ask what do you mean triple jabs? Are they putting 3 vaccines in one? No wonder I was so ill if that is the case, is it even safe to do that?

Is this year’s another triple jab?

I noticed at my surgery on monday that flu jabs were being offered,isn't it early for flu jabs?

DH booked us both in for our jabs at the GP surgery. My appointment is at 0740h and his is at 1600h (much more civilised!). Apparently we under-65s get ours in the morning, 65s and over in the afternoon, as we get different vaccines.

I was surprised to get a free one this year, as I'm only 64. You qualify if you're 65 before the end of March. Bonus!

I wont be having mine, last time I was ill for 3 weeks and no one can seem to explain why. I was in absolute agony with my head and no amount of painkillers would get rid of the pain. Never again, I got a real fright. Had flu about 2 years ago, although debilitating I did recover about a month but never had the headache that jab gave me. I did have headache but it did go, even with the flu.

Drat. Forgot to book mine at Boots in the required time for a discount! ?

Our surgery runs two glue clinics reckon a Saturday morning. First come first served. Quite a queue but it moves like lightening. All doctors and practice nurses working, you're in and out, job done in about 15 minutes, including queuing time.

Our local surgery last year could only offer appointments at times which conflicted with the school run or else wait till late November. I thought that by that time I could have caught the 'flu so booked on line with Boots. No queue and done in a private room so have booked again for this year.

Do they not have flu clinics in your area?

From the sounds of it you need to pay for your flu shot, but in my area, even back when most people had to pay for it, there were still flu clinics. The public health agency would rent space from a mall, or rent a community hall, or something similar. They'd post ads about the flu shot clinic being at a particular place on a particular date, and then the hours that the shots were available. Then it was first-come, first-served. We still have that now. You can get your flu shot from your provider or from a pharmacy, but the flu clinics are very popular. That's often where I get mine.

I booked mine on-line at Boots . I’ve had it there for the last 4 years . I got an early bird 10% discount this time

I've never had one before. Last week our health centre rang to ask if I would like one, so I said yes this year.
I've made an appointment for the first week in October for both DH and I.

I’m having mine on Saturday booked at my GP last week.

I rang lLoyds Pharmacy to book flu jabs this morning. Our local one is a complete shambles! They said they would take my name and phone number and ring me back next week or sometime.

Exactly what happened last year. They never rang back and when I eventually rang them again they said they were all booked up and had no spaces left.

Dont your surgery miss out financually if you have it done elsewhere?

I've mine booked for next week. I've been having them for quite a few years now, but this will be the first time I will qualify for one free, having reached the requisite age, don't know whether to feel pleased or not about that