Flu Vaccinations

Not just me, then! Thanks, Tilly.

I had a Facebook advert in mid July from Boots, asking me to book a flu jab, which I did. I had it last Monday and I'm 62. My mid 80s parents had both their flu jab and covid booster at the local vaccination centre yesterday. The arrangements this year for flu jabs seems to be rather random!

NotTooOld

Did anyone get side effects from the flu jab? I had mine a week ago and never normally get side effects but this year I have felt achy all over and very tired. It goes away if I take Ibuprofen. I have been alright today so it has probably passed now, just interested to hear if anyone else was similarly affected?

I think it's four types of flue. Perhaps that's quite a load for our older (fewer) T cells. I don't know how many it has been in passed years.

I had a text yesterday from my GP suggesting I phone to make an appointment for my flu vaccination. When I was told I was caller number 16 I decided I’d walk round to the surgery to make an appointment

Had mine at a local pharmacy a few years ago, walked in, booked for almost next day, had it. Easy peasy.
Eventually got round to popping in this week, please book online as 'it helps with making sure we've the correct amount of vaccine'.
Went online, no appointments for a month. Tried every one of their branches for ten miles, same story, sometimes 5 weeks.
Tried the major chain of chemists in England, same story.
Am very surprised.

NotTooOld

Did anyone get side effects from the flu jab? I had mine a week ago and never normally get side effects but this year I have felt achy all over and very tired. It goes away if I take Ibuprofen. I have been alright today so it has probably passed now, just interested to hear if anyone else was similarly affected?

I compared notes with a friend. I almost never have a reaction, she invariably does have a minor reaction, just enough to remind her she's had a flu jab. The year I did have a (minor) reaction, she didn't!

Our local authority (Glasgow) has taken over from doctor’s surgeries this year.
I fear this will mean a delay and it probably being offered at the same time as the covid booster which I would prefer not to do.
(I want both, just not at the same time.)

Asked nurse re flu and covid boosters when I had my regular bloods done mid Sept and was told that the surgery wouldn't be giving covid boosters and at that point didn't know when flu vaccine would be available.Found this quite hard to understand as usually come Sept we would have been invited for flu jab and thought this year even more so,especially for those like myself who have been shielding.
Popped into Boots to make enquiries and they offered both DH and myself flu jab there and then.Explained Covid boosters need to be 6 mths since 2nd covid vax so I would be invited in next day or two and DH in 2 wks.Sure enough received a text inviting me to book.(next Mon)
No ill effects from flu jab other than a red tracking line from inj site to inner arm but no soreness or illness.
Grateful for the care we have received.

Booked mine online yesterday and having it at my local Boots on Monday. Missed out at my GPs on Tuesday as had a hospital appointment. They hadn't got a date to book next flu jab clinic. So my daughter suggested I tried a pharmacy.

our GPs do a walk-in clinic for flu jabs, sunday morning 3 week ago. no appts, just turn up, give name and d.o.b., get jabbed.
works well. all queuing outside up the road, in one door, out the other.
unusually did have noticeable red mark, 5p size, and bit sore for over a week. mark fading now. no longer sore.
am hoping to hear about covid booster jab sometime.

Had mine last Thursday at GP’s after a txt to book a couple of weeks ago. No problem as afterwards, not even a sore arm.

Callistemon

What strains are in the flu vaccines this year?
Does anyone know?

Yes Callistemon, do think the jabs are a little shot in the dark (no pub intended) this year But, anything is better than nothing.
I had mine carried out at GP surgery four weeks ago. They sent invites to all their over-80's to have this then. Covid one this coming week.

Had mine this morning at surgery. There were so many people queuing to have it done. Strange how the surgery open was for this and so many people attending but not for anything else. Felt weird being in there again.

Because there has been so little flu around anywhere in the world, it’s been very difficult for those producing the vaccine to accurately predict which strains might be prevalent here this year.

It’s still worth having though as even a small amount of protection is better than none.

Last week, along with the Covid booster vacc. At local GP surgery.

I have had my 1st one today, I had a headache before I went and still have one. I have taken paracetamol.

Yes Callistemon, do think the jabs are a little shot in the dark (no pub intended) this year
Ouch Franbern!

From the WHO website:

Egg-based Vaccines

an A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
an A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 (H3N2)-like virus; and
a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus

Cell- or recombinant-based Vaccines

an A/Wisconsin/588/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
an A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 (H3N2)-like virus; and
a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus

Still not sure which it will be

I had mine Oct.1st and Boots.I was surprised to be told that the Vaccination used is different for over 65s to that used for younger people. The over 65 one is stronger than the other.
I had a sore arm for a few days but no other problems

I rang my surgery, asked about the flu jab, was told by the receptionist that I wasn't eligible..... I'm 62, have mild Asthma, had Covid in July (on a ventilator for 2 weeks), and had a stroke in July. She asked someone else there - yes, I AM eligible, so I'm booking in for next month

We had ours on Saturday, following a text message from the surgery a couple of weeks ago. That evening, I developed a sore throat which has developed into usual cold symptoms! Haven’t had one for two years! ?

PippaZ thank you for starting this thread. It made me realise I could just book with a pharmacy for our flu jab (which is now on Friday) so when we are asked in for our COVID booster we won’t need a flu jab at the same time. Problem solved. ?

I’m 52 and had mine at the GPs’ surgery two weeks ago.

We are both 74 and booked over a month ago to have our flu jabs at our chemist last Week. However, the chemist was unable to give them as her computer said we both had already had them last month!
Not true…The chemist had only just had the vaccines in and we never go to the surgery for vaccinations.
She said she’d had to refer back to our surgery for information.

We received a phone call the next day from our surgery to say “go ahead with the flu jab” but nothing was mentioned to the chemist. Our chemist is still waiting for the surgery to contact her about this error…and we are still waiting for our flu jabs!

Having received a text from my surgery asking me to ring and book, I had mine two weeks ago at the same large centre where Covid vacciations were offered earlier this year. As before, it was very well organised with the only side effect being a mildly stiff arm the following day.

My GP surgery is always very slow so I had my flu jab about 2 weeks ago at the local pharmacy- no reaction whatsoever. My booster vaccine was yesterday and to date no problems. Maybe I am just lucky, I do not know but I never have pain or any reaction from any jab. I do make sure that there is a week or two between. I do not want eg booster and flu jab together. I am sorted for another year.