Flu jab

[wilsond]

Hello! I have been invited in for a flu jab.Why do we AFs need one? Im 58.Just curious,will have it done .

[pottypete1]

They tend to offer it to anyone with any heart condition before they are 65.

Pete

[jonjub]

Making an assumption that as viruses and Afib don't mix too well together then it would be so much better to try to avoid the virus in the first place.

[Finvola]

If you think of the effects of a cold virus on the heart rhythm, flu is not something to invite, so flu vaccine Is recommended for us oldies. 😄

This year, there seems to be a problem in N Ireland as normally I have mine at the beginning of October but the surgery cannot give me any info on when it will be done. Feeling slightly concerned.

[Angie06 in reply to Finvola]

Our flu clinic for this month has been cancelled due to lack of vaccine and my next appointment is for the middle of Nov. As I'm also the primary carer for my 90yr old mother who also has failure I'm also feeling annoyed and will probably fork out £10 and go to Tesco!

[NorfolkGal in reply to Angie06]

Both Boots and Lloyds pharmacies in the Norfolk area are offering free flu jabs to vulnerable and over 65’s

It may apply nationally. My surgery were having problems sourcing it and as I was going into hospital I opted not to wait and booked in at Lloyd’s

[Hidden in reply to NorfolkGal]

Our surgery said they didn't have any more flu vaccine, and our Boots says they won't give me a shot because I have AF and 'it has to be done differently'. I am rolling my eyes wildly at the moment...

[Jollies in reply to Finvola]

Was thinking the same thing. Asked about it when I went for my asthma review a few weeks back and was told it would be October. Received an email from my pharmacy last night inviting me to have one for £15!

[Finvola in reply to Jollies]

Sitting here thinking about contacting my local pharmacy, Jollies. Reports in the press refer to phased delivery of the new vaccine for over 65’s but if the doctor’s surgery doesn’t have a supply, how does the pharmacy get it?

[Jollies in reply to Finvola]

In England my daughter has had the jab because she is pregnant and my son in law has had the jab as his school have paid for it. ( they don't like their staff having time off ill) . I see a lot of local schools are having the nurses in at the end of October giving out the flu spray to pupils x

[Hidden in reply to Finvola]

Probably because the enormous number of us oldies in Eastbourne have had it all. Lol😀. We were all queuing up the corridors and out the door at our vaccy day last week! Bonus jab for pneumonia also received and some were being given the shingles one too.

[Gladaven]

My surgery has run out of vaccine for the over 65's, I must return in 3weeks I am 80 and have AF!!!!!

[pottypete1 in reply to Gladaven]

You can get it done at a pharmacy. I think if you qualify it is still free. If not the cost is not too much.

Pete

[Gladaven in reply to pottypete1]

Hi pete thank you very much for the info, very useful to know but I am 😨 afraid that due to health issues I must attend the surgery. Cheers Glad

[Finvola in reply to Gladaven]

Sounds like poor planning in some places Gladaven - winter always seems to take the powers that be by surprise!

[Gladaven in reply to Finvola]

Hi seems this year there is a special vaccine for the over 65's . There must be an awful lot of us old foggies around I fear.Lol It's very posh I believe haha. Cheers All Gladie.xxxx.

[7Helena in reply to Gladaven]

You say there is a special vaccine for the over 65s. Have they added a new ingredient this year? If so do you know what it is?.

[Gladaven in reply to 7Helena]

Hi 7Helena I just read somewhere that last year the vaccine was not quite successful, didn't quite protect the over 65's as it should have. Can anyone confirm this ? A new strain may have been added, I may be wrong perhaps you can google it sorry! Cheers Gladie. xx

[7Helena in reply to Gladaven]

Yes, I'll google it and let you know the results if you're interested? Thank you for the suggestion, Gladaven.

[7Helena in reply to Gladaven]

I've checked and it seems that it is an added vaccine making it fighting 4 types of 'flu'. Hopefully covering all 'flus' currently 'attacking' us.

[Gladaven in reply to 7Helena]

Thank you Helena I thought I had seen it but I am 80 I didn't have flu last year but caught a nasty Chest Infection which made me quite ill. Well here's to a healthy winter, Best Wishes Gladie. xx

[pottypete1 in reply to Gladaven]

Just checked online. Boots will do it FOC on the NHS if you are eligible. If you are not eligible it costs £12.99. (Other Pharmacies offer a similar service).

Pete

[Gladaven in reply to pottypete1]

Thank you Pete, so kind of you to check Lots of folk will find this info good to know Gladys.

[Gladaven in reply to pottypete1]

I am 😨 so afraid I will just have to try to hide away from all germs or stay in bed for a few weeks lol. Gladie

[heartbeat4]

I Live in Wales and booked to get flu jab last year in Boots they said they wouldn't do it as I am taking Apixaban The pharmacist then told when she had been working in England the week before and she was able to give it there Just check when you book

[Gladaven in reply to heartbeat4]

Hi Best of luck I hope you will be successful this year Cheers Glad.xx.

[Hidden in reply to heartbeat4]

Makes a change the English getting something for free on the NHS that the Welsh can’t. 😏

[7Helena in reply to Hidden]

I believe the surgeries get a sum of money for each jab given! I was tikd be a nursing friend whose surgery have a Saturday clinic just for the flu jabs. Has anybody else in the UK heard of this?

[Hidden in reply to 7Helena]

I would think so otherwise they wouldn’t agree to do it. I didn’t fancy the Saturday morning bun fight this year so popped into Boots and had it there and then free.

[cassie46]

I had mine done last Tuesday, surgery actually rang me and old me it was due, they have never done in the last 5 years, I have booked my self. If it keeps most of the flu viruses away I will be happy because any chest infections since I have had AF get really bad and breathing difficult which does not help the AF. Remember there is the pnemonia (spelt wrong ) and shingles jabs for over 70's now. I have both had of these last year.

Cassie

[sportscoach]

Depends on the health board in Wales.....Any Boots chemist covered by the Aneurin Bevan health board won’t vaccinate if you on an anticoagulant .......6 mile up the road in Powys it’s not a problem for Boots chemist they will vaccinate then and there.....crazy world

The guidelines for the flu jab are if you suffer with a heart condition your entitled to the flu jab this also applies to the pneumonia jab which is £70 again this vaccination is normally available free at the doctors surgery not sure if boots do this one for free on the NHS

[Hidden in reply to sportscoach]

Told me at Boots that it was £70

[bigbearatthecave]

Flu interesting link, about 10 days before I get flu or a man cold, I get 'flutters' on and off, then 10 days later I get a cold. This has happened several times so I do think there is a link

[Ianc2]

If you are on warfarin you will have to shuffle along to your local Germ Provision meeting place.

[Morzine]

Me too I’ve been given an invite for one over here in France.....I’m not sure what to do either.....

[UkeMan]

I have the flu jab and regard it as "insurance" in case we have a flu epidemic. Does not mean you will not get the flu or symptoms but it may not be as bad if you had not had the jab.

[Mugster]

I am pretty sure my AF started with a virus.

Worst I have ever had woke up one morning couldn't speak couldn't even whisper for a week

Cough lasted 3 more weeks ,couldnt lie down at night just dozed propped up on pillows.GP said antibiotics no good it was a virus. Diagnosed with AF a few months later

[Bee-Honest]

I am 66 and have had PAF for 16 years and did not have a flu jab until last year, I always resisted it and I felt I was fairly healthy. However last year I was 'talked' into it by the GP's clinic, so went ahead, jab given in morning by evening I was in AF (the first time for several years), visited my GP the following day who said, in rather a sharp manner, it would have nothing to do with the flu jab. Heart was still out (but not fast, like my usual PAF) and I was feeling terrible, GP couldn't offer a solution but said she would contact the Cardiologist at the local NHS hospital, but it could take a while to see him. It was mid December and I had loads to do, felt awful, so decided to see a Cardiologist privately. Got an appointment for 4 days time, however heart returned to SR the night before my appointment, but still kept the appointment, first thing he said was the flu jab has done this! But he also insisted that having the jab was the better option for me. His advise was if you don't have the jab and take flu it will certainly put your heart out of rhythm, so you could have both, and struggle with the flu. He also advised me that by taking a one off additional 100mg Flecainide would probably have put my heart back in SR.

Dreading this years jab, and I've been advised to have the pneumonia one too!