Is everyone getting a flu jab?

This year I'm concerned about it. My GP surgery is not offering it at the surgery itself. Instead they have a drive through! All well and good IF YOU DRIVE!!!
I don't. So I apparently have to get it done at the pharmacy. My concern is I'm not sure they'll be willing to give it in my leg. After a frozen shoulder as a direct result of the jab in my arm a few years ago I will not have it in my arm again. Since then the surgery have booked me with a Dr not the nurse for this.
I really need to have it.
I will have the discussion with the pharmacist next week to see what they say.....

ExD

Like Chewbacca and others, I too have a bad reaction - it seems to give me a very heavy cold which lasts all winter - it used to be (almost) compulsory for all staff in our school to have one. I worked at about 75% efficiency until around March when I would gradually regain strength.
So I'm sure you can see why I just can't make up my mind this year.
I think I'll 'go for it' - just in case!

How awful for you, knowing you are going to be feeling unwell and then having to work through it.
Just a suggestion, but could you perhaps build up your gut bacteria for a couple of weeks beforehand by taking probiotics so proactively building up your resilience.

It might be worth a try, as vaccines and antibiotics reduce beneficial gut bacteria substantially so can have an adverse effect on wellbeing due to not being able to absorb the nutrients from food as well.
I recall, in the 80's whilst living in Italy, being prescribed a course of probiotics after a course of antibiotics to restore bowel flora.
Struck me as being quite forward thinking at that time.

We've had these ever since we were eligible. My husband is immobile, and has his from the community nurse, who agreed to give me mine at the same time, which made it very easy.
We were a bit put off by the nurse telling us, as she did them, how painful her arm had been after having hers, but as usual, we had no problems.

Mine booked for this Wednesday in car back hopefully it wont be raining

This was last year....not had this year's yet.

This is Not going well so far, I was given a noon app for today last week, yesterday a text saying 1:30 app today and I just got another text saying ‘don’t forget your Flu jab today come before 1pm. ??confused I am. Tried to ring but apparently the surgery is now closed till Monday.
I think I’ll walk over at noon and hope for the best ?

No not getting the flu jab havent had one for years. Not for me.

We have flu jabs every year and only have sore arms as it is done, never any reaction, never flu.

Flu is also a corona virus so it is useful to keep our immune systems alert to these viruses in the present situation. It is safer for you and you avoid contributing to the circulating infections and transmitting any flu virus replicating in your social group.

It is socially responsible, like social distancing.

I m a nurse and have been having and administering flu vaccines for many years. Adverse reactions are very rare, you may feel a little off colour 24 to 48 hours after having the vaccine and sometimes may get a mild fever, this is normal and many people don’t. You may also experience slight tenderness around the injection site. You absolutely cannot get flu from the vaccine as it is an inactive ( dead) vaccine and it will not protect you against all strains of flu, only the ones we know about, however if a disease is vaccine preventable It’s got to be worth having the vaccine. Most importantly at this time if you contracted flu, and thus can often lead to pneumonia and other complications, the thought of getting COVID-19 on top of that is unthinkable. I ve had a flu vaccine myself for the last 20 years and I would urge anyone with underlying health issues or over the age of 65 to be vaccinated. I believe once everyone in the higher risk categories has been vaccinated, I believe they will be looking at vaccinating everyone over the age of 50 also, don’t take any more risks than you need and never think it won’t happen to you, failing to prepare is preparing to fail and that could be the difference between a good outcome and something nine of us want to think about xx

Not had the flu jab since my daughter had it a few years ago and had a very severe reaction and had to stay in bed for three months. The Dr was concerned and actually made house visits during this time. Dr said daughter better not have flu jab again.

None that should say not nine.....

I have a number of health issues which means I'm eligible. I've taken up the offer for years as I once had flu when the children were younger and, more importantly, so was I. It completely floored me for weeks. I would hate that now that I'm more vulnerable.

I've had one most years for a while now as I'm diabetic. The last 2 years I've had it in the school where I work as it's more convenient, but previously went to the doctor's surgery. I haven't had any problems with the jab and haven't had flu so I'd advise anyone to have it, especially this year as the NHS will be stretched if we get a second wave of covid. That's why it's being offered to more people this year. Those of us who were always eligible will probably get it first though I haven't been offered it yet.

Yes I will be having mine. Have had reactions in the past but have also had flu and I know which one I prefer. Of the flu jabs that I have had the reactions have ranged from non at all to the worst where I spent a whole day in bed feeling like I had the flu but only lasted one day. So I will cross my fingers and join the queue again this year.

I have only had it the past two years. I had had flu once in my life back in 1983. I decided to have the vaccination after a virus that lasted on and off for a few weeks. Was told it was a type of flu by a friend who is a nurse.

I had my first flu jab last year, having resisted for years. I had no adverse effects except for a slightly sore arm from the needle.

I’ll be having one. I had flu two years ago when I hadn’t had the jab, and never want to go through it again, the after effects lasted for months. I can’t afford to have flu again as I’m a carer and there will be myriad reason’s why others want to avoid flu.
I had it the jab at the pharmacy last year as the GP surgery was so busy. The pharmacy were very helpful and thorough about past history.
shirls gives good advice.

Absolutely!

Highly recommend the ‘flu jab. Have it every year. Now they have one for the over 65’s, which I had last year, which was highly effective. The 2018 strain offered little protection which was medically recognised, and I had the flu, albeit quite mildly. This year it’ll be more important than ever to have as much protection as possible against this horrid illnesses.

Definitely. I've only had flu once and that was enough! I was in a dingy basement flat in Barnes with no telephone. I was so ill I could hardly get out of bed, and remember literally crawling to the loo! I had a raging thirst but couldn't get up to the kitchen tap. Fortunately, when I didn't turn up for work, or call, my boss came round to investigate and took me to my mother's to recover. I can remember the weeks of depression that followed to this day..... So I'm first in line for the flu jab!

I'm in my late 70s and healthy. I've never had a flu jab or any other vaccination. My parents were naturopaths (holistic approach, natural remedies). They didn't allow me to have any vaccinations (eg BCG against TB - much to my embarrassment at being singled out in this way at school).
My husband has a flu jab every year, and our children and grandchildren have all had the full range of vaccinations on offer. For the first time this year, I'm questioning my strong and ingrained instincts to decline the flu jab as I normally do.
Might I be compromising my (apparently healthy) immune system by having it? Or, in the current times of pandemic, am I being irresponsible in not having it?

I have had one every year since having my stroke (2001). Although they don't guarantee you are immunized against all strains, I have not had either the flu or a reaction.
I will have one, but haven't been contacted yet.

Haven't had a free one though I expect to this winter but have paid for one each year since I was 55. Money well spent, I reckon, and I've never had an adverse reaction.

Never had one but I know several who do and they are fine.

Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that having the flu jab made them ill - it just doesn’t happen as the vaccine is inert. An allergic reaction is of course a different matter, but just because someone had a reaction there is no reason to think you will. I think the ‘carrier’ for the jab must have changed over the years, it used to be albumen so anyone with an allergy to eggs was at risk and you always had to sit for 20 minutes before being let go just in case of a reaction, but that is no longer a requirement.