Flu.

The gov.uk website recommends having the vaccination in autumn/ early winter before the flu season kicks in.

It should be reasonably effective for up to 6 months, so if you have it in September, it ought to be ok until March.

Personally, I book mine as soon as they are available. If you wait, they often run out.

cookiemonster66

yes I wish they would give us the statistics of those hospitalised with this winter flu virus and how many have been vaccinated , they must know for the NHS records to monitor on vaccination success rate

You can probably Google last years stats?

Don't forget, if you were vaccinated in September your immunity will already be dropping.
I don't know how long it's "fully" active after the build-up period.

I read a study that the best date to be vaccinated was very end of October or beginning of November before the flu season kicks off but to carry you through.
I read another study which showed that the body response is best if you have your vaccination in the morning. There was a big difference in quantity of antibodies between those people vaccinated 9-11 am rather than 2-3 pm.

I admit I was vaccinated later than this but I did book a morning slot!

I suspect most people who are hospitalised actually have secondary infections by that stage, so by the time they are admitted, whether they have had flu, Covid, or a respiratory virus is not detectable on tests. It’s a perfect storm this winter with them all circulating at the same time.

yes I wish they would give us the statistics of those hospitalised with this winter flu virus and how many have been vaccinated , they must know for the NHS records to monitor on vaccination success rate

Good for you Bonnybanko

I’m scared senseless of any injections, however I put my big pants on and got a flu jab and a covid jab on the same day many weeks ago I’m blessed with these nurses who came to my home to give me them they are so humerous knowing me as the screamer 😱😱😱😱

*HMPV, sorry

My brother is 75, fully vaccinated, and is just recovering from his first ever bout of Covid. Thankfully not hospitalised but certainly knocked for six. There is also another respiratory disease doing the rounds, HPMV.

www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/conditions/cold-flu/what-is-hmpv-and-symptoms/

I've just watched a report on the dire situation in our local A&E, there is severe overcrowding and many in the unit have one of 4 viruses, the staff member interviewed said it was nigh on impossible to stop cross contamination but no one was wearing masks. Why are people so weird about masks? They're not fun to wear but surely better than catching a secondary illness in hospital if you're already ill. The lack of infection control is unbelievable and inexcusable.

Calendar Girl, I dutifully had Covid and Flu jabs as soon as they were offered to me, as I always do.
The day before Christmas eve I started coughing non stop. Over Christmas it continued and I had no energy or appetite.
2 weeks later I still feel rotten, but see no point in making an appointment, as I don't feel well enough to drive and do not wish to give my bugs to anyone else.

ANd incidentally, I was in hospital in November 2023 (pulmonary embolism) for 3 weeks, where I actually CAUGHT Covid. Hardly my fault surely?

My neighbour , in his early fifties I guess, has just been taken to hospital by ambulance following contracting flu a week ago.
He had his flu jab, but suffers from breathing difficulties from a re-action to an earlier ( 2023) Covid jab, and has been on chemo ever since.
He is just one example, but I understand most of the serious
cases involve over 80s people, a group with a high percentage uptake of the jabs.
I'm just past mid eighties, go for all the jabs on offer but also avoid all shops and buses etc. - and docs' waiting rooms too if I can manage it !
I had a friend who said she "didn't believe" in flu jabs. I used to tell her she was protected to a large degree by those of us who did !
I'm so sorry for my neighbour.
Like many others, he didn't deserve this.

Shizam

Just had the second shingles jab, which flattened me for two days. Can only imagine what the actual illness is like. Likewise for flu. So I have every jab offered on this basis!

I've had shingles. It not nice but so were the side effects of the vaccination. However, they only lasted for two or three days whereas nerve pain from shingles could go on for months although mine didn't.

I'm due a second vaccination soon and am hesitant because of the unpleasant side effects last time, but probably will go for it.

Good news fancythat - sorry he's not eligible via the NHS though.

I believe that as a vaccinated almost 70 Yr old that I have some protection at least but really noticing how many with coughs and colds are out and about or working. I recently challenged a shop worker who coughed directly on the bread she was putting on the shelf. Within a week I had a cough and cold and three weeks later still have a productive cough. I washed my hands when I returned from shopping and cough into a tissue or my elbow. And since becoming unwell I have shopped on line. Taken more care surface wiping with antibacterial spray. and anti back hand gel. I do deep breathing exercises and go for an outdoor walk daily avoiding people. So far the family seem OK but I think we all have a responsibility to others to keep our germs to ourselves.

I had my jabs ,wear masks and am super careful .
I felt vaguely headachy and nauseated all weekend .
I thought that I was tired or it was migraine, but then diarrhoea started .
Unfortunately , I tend to get headaches and migraines though they are not as bad as the IBS that I get sporadically .
Had I eaten and drunk too much over Christmas and New Year ?
Very possibly .
By Sunday night , my throat was sore and coughing began .
And now it seems to be a combination of all of the above .
I suppose that it's flu .
I don't want to do anything apart from rest and binge watch the telly .

Unfortunately it seems that for some that has taught them nothing! Obviously they have failed to click in their heads how easily colds and flu are spread! My OH plays an indoor sport, during covid many turned up with covid symptoms and no masks, these people are now playing having cold and flu bugs! He is keeping well away. If I have a cold I stay home am not willing to share my germs.

Just had the second shingles jab, which flattened me for two days. Can only imagine what the actual illness is like. Likewise for flu. So I have every jab offered on this basis!

Calendargirl

Also, many shops have now done away with their protective screens which were put up for covid.

Our local health food shop has removed his. He said it was because so many of his customers grumbled about them!

These screens must prevent so many germs reaching both staff and customers though.

Screens aren’t very useful as viruses and bacteria aren’t static. May protect spitting tho! Be better off introducing good ventilation systems.

Just a thought. I wonder how many flu victims suffered a deterioration in their condition, to the point of requiring hospital admission, due to their home being inadequately heated?

fancythat

Thanks from me too NS.
I think DH will follow that up.

We have followed it all up locally. DH is not eligible this year from the NHS. But local chemist has got some more supplies in, so he can get one there.
He has to pay £21.50 or something like that.

My friend had the flu vaccine, but came down with flu a couple of weeks before Christmas. She said she had a bath to try to get warm, and then felt too weak to get out of it without help! She said that she could hardly lift a cup of tea to her lips. She's never felt so ill and Christmas was a complete washout for her and the family.

We both had the flu Covid and RSV jabs. I think we caught something on a train from London before Xmas and have both been very ill. It may have been flu or Covid - I’ve lost my sense of smell and taste so presume it’s the latter.

My husband and I had the flu vaccine in November and (touch wood) we’ve been ok so far. However, we booked Covid vaccines at our local chemist, but the appts were cancelled because supplies had run out. I wonder if this because of high demand or fewer supplies? 🤔

...or you would be worse without!

Get well soon.