Flu Jab

jaysay · 11-11-2006, 10:08

I made my first visit to the new Royal Blackburn this week, in fact I went twice to two different departments and on the surface it looks fine. I went for my sis monthly MOT with the Prof., that's my consultant Professor Ormerod and as usual at this time of year we had our usual differance of opinion. I always used to have the Flu Jab, the only problem being that within three days of having it I was being rushed into hospital with blue flashing lights. The last time I had the Jab was the 13th Oct 1994; I was in "e" 3 at Queens Park the fifteenth. The bottom line was that that every year, over the winter months I was probably admitted as many as six times, so I said enough is enough and decided not to have it again. I informed the Prof of my decision, to which he replied "Well John I'm like the Queen, I'm only here to advise. I have to say that this is the only time I have not taken notice of any doctor. However, the outcome is that since 1995 I have only been admitted to hospital on one occasion in Aug 2001, so I feel my decision was justified. The only down side is that I don't go out much in the winter months and any one with any type of ailment do not cross my door step, but it works for me. Has anyone else had problems with the flu jab.

garinda · 11-11-2006, 10:17

I had my first flu jab last month, after being recommended to have it by my GP.

No side effects at all for me so far, happily.

lettie · 11-11-2006, 10:32

Like most medications vaccinations affect everybody differently because we are all individuals. Although it is recommended that I have a flu jab every year and it is laid on free by our occupational health department, I have never had one. Some of my colleagues have had them and been fine. One colleague had one last year and was off sick for a week with a cold and flu like symptoms. This may have been a side effect for her but it may have been purely coincidental in that she was coming down with something before having the jab. There is no way of knowing which it was.

I am not recommended to have the jab because of medical reasons, if I was, I would probably have it. It is purely a recommendation because of my job and the large amount of people that I come into close contact with. The contact I have with people is very intimate and I have been vaccinated against Hep B but I rarely care for people with flu (although many people with a bad cold reckon they have the flu)..

chav1 · 11-11-2006, 10:49

most people that i know who have had the jab feel like crap for a week or two after they have had it so although my doctor offers it me he gets told no thanx

Mick · 11-11-2006, 10:54

I have had mine owt for nowt hehe i feel fine
never had a problem with them

cashman · 11-11-2006, 11:01

never had the jab,but took pills for many years (supplied by firm) with great results i.e. from having flu annually to never having it once. but doubt very much if i would have the jab,like chav most people i know have not had a good reaction to it,and as i,m a tart,sod it.

jambutty · 11-11-2006, 11:16

I got my flu jab the other day and the only down side was sitting in the doctor’s surgery waiting room for half an hour amongst sick people all sneezing and coughing germs and things all over the place. Dangerous places doctor’s surgeries.

Ever since the flu jab became recommended for ancients I have had mine with no side effects at all. I guess I’m the lucky one!

WillowTheWhisp · 11-11-2006, 11:17

I'm booked for one next Saturday but I'm also booked for an angiogram on the following Monday. I asked at Peel House if it's likely to affect that and was told "No" but to be on the safe side I'm going to phone the hosp for advice on Monday. The angiogram can't be delayed because I need another op that they can't do until I've had that because due to my asthma I can't do the treadmill test.

Margaret Pilkington · 11-11-2006, 16:09

My hubby had the Flu Jab a couple of weeks ago, and within a couple of hours he felt like he was getting a bad cold. I suggested he take something for the symptoms......but no, not him.....he would fight it off like a real man!
Huh, he has had a bad chest for 10 days now....and at the beginning of this week I started with a sore throat and aching joints etc. Now I haven't been anywhere near anyone with the dreaded lurgy...so i am blaming himself for it.

andrewb · 11-11-2006, 16:47

So do flu jabs stop you getting a certain sort of flu or do they stop you getting nasty colds which might seem like flu to males?

shillelagh · 11-11-2006, 18:17

I was told to have the flu jab because of looking after my mum and because of the epilepsy. So when the nurse came out to give it to my mum she said i might as well do yours as well. 3 months later i was in bed with the flu!! Didnt get out of bed for four days. Mum ended up in a home for 2 weeks just in case she got it. So 10 months later when the doc said i'll book you in for your flu jab i said no thanks. Everytime the doc mentioned it i said no. Anyway a couple of years ago he said the flu jab and i said no thanks and he said that because if mum got the flu there was a good chance she would end up in hospital. So i agreed to have it. Next thing new years day everyone round im not feeling so well - ended up in bed for 4 days again! I only get flu when i have the flu jab. Doc offered it again this year and i said no. But yet mum had the flu jab and wasnt ill at all with it.

Cyfr the flu jab is strains of the flu that was going round last year. It is supposed to stop you getting the strains of that flu. If you do get flu then it isnt supposed to be as bad as if you didnt have the flu jab.

slinky · 11-11-2006, 18:52

I work In a Nursing home so am around loads of people that have it done.

The amount of people I see that get very poorly after this jab is un -believable. I personal think it is a government scam to bump off the elderly because we are living longer.

IMHO I would never have one done.

ANNE · 11-11-2006, 23:38

Same here Slink. I alway's seem to have something wrong with me come flu jab time colds, chest infections you name it I have it an they wont do it while your poorly sick.

lettie · 12-11-2006, 10:16

That's the thing about the flu jab.. It can only protect you from a certain strain of flu yet there are hundreds of different strains. If you get the flu after having the jab then you're not supposed to get such bad symptoms and will only be taking to your bed for a few days rather than a few weeks.

mez · 12-11-2006, 11:49

i have had one every year since i was very ill with flue at christmas 1999, i crawled out of bed on new yrs eve to watch the millenium fireworks round town from my garden, the only after effect is a damm sore arm ...think my nurse is after me ha ha .