All you need to know about the flu vaccination

[jeanjeannie50]

Here is the official advice leaflet for this years flu vaccination, it does contain a little more than the dead flu virus:

medicines.org.uk/emc/files/...

Jean

[Hidden]

Thank you Jean (!).....after reading all that I wonder whether I should go ahead with mine next week !?!

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

I dither about having it every year and have not had one yet. Earlier this year when I had the Aussie flu I wished I had, but then discovered that last years vaccine didn't contain protection from that. In the late 1960's I had the vaccine and it gave me flu, had never even had a cold before that! I know it's greatly changed since then, but forgiveness is hard.

Have you had one before?

Jean

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Like you Jean I dither every year but always end up getting one! My husband never has one and takes as few meds as he can. Last year I was quite ill for many weeks with what was prob Aussie flu and so was he. Quite ruined a very expensive Christmas break. Meeting up with friends tonight who always have the jab so I expect I'll end up getting it done !

[meadfoot]

Thanks Jean that's useful info. I had my flu jab on Wednesday. I was given one for over sixty fives as apparently I was told they had found that last years vaccine had not been fully absorbed by that age group so they have added a further ingredient in this years vaccine. No idea what the addition is as the health care assistant didn't know. I had heard it on to too.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to meadfoot]

I'm surprised people aren't given a copy of the info above when having their flu vaccine, but reading the side effects could possibly put the idea into peoples minds that they have them. I think what every person decides to do with regard to having the jab or not, is their decision only and what ever they decide is right for them.

What a cheek giving a young person like you a jab for the over 65's!

Jean

[sleeksheep in reply to meadfoot]

This is the break down of the Australian Fluvax 2018

There is no added ingredient just an enhanced formulation.

Lesser mortals get the lower dose >

These vaccines will contain the following strains:

A (H1N1): an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus

A (H3N2): an A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2)-like virus

B: a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus

B: a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

Fossils get the more reactive dose >

The trivalent vaccines include two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain. These formulations provide an enhanced immune response and are only recommended for patients aged 65 years and over.

These vaccines will contain the following strains:

A (H1N1): an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus

A (H3N2): an A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2)-like virus

B: a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.

[jedimasterlincoln]

I've never bothered. I've never had flu. My mum had to pay for hers this year as she wasn't in the "vulnerable" category yet she needed one because she's about to go in for Basal Cell Carcinoma removal and facial reconstruction surgery..... and she didn't want to be sneezing everywhere.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

I never, ever had flu when I was young Jed. Last year at age 66 was my first time ever with it. Oh I tell a lie, I had it at age 18 after having a flu jab!

Hope your mum's situation is resolved well. My daughter had a Basal Cell Carcinoma removed from the side of her nose and she needed a skin transplant. It's amazing what they can do today, she's fine now. I get small ones all the time and either zap them with a chemo cream or they are cut out. Your mum needs to keep an eye on her body now to make sure she uses the cream before they progress.

Jean

[Finvola]

Thank you Jean. I always have a jab but this year the vaccine is as rare as hen’s teeth in this part of NI. ☹️

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Finvola]

Will you be able to have one then?

Jean

[Finvola in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Our surgery receptionist is following the policy flowchart - ‘you will be called’. ☹️ My husband who is 75 is having his next week and he will try to get a more sensible answer about us youngsters of 74. Otherwise, I think it will be the pharmacy for me.

[Angell50]

I’ve had mine - I’ve had for the last 5years : I think prevention is better than cure : I had it for the over 65’s at our drs surgery. I’ve not had a bad case of flu 😷 in years :

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Angell50]

Sounds like you are doing well with it. Long may that continue.

Jean

[Hidden]

Thanks Jean very interesting. I have a problem with formaldehyde so I'm glad I refused it! Sue

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

I've always refused it, but am still not totally sure that's the right thing to do.

Jean

[MazzyB in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I’ve been told to have it! Had it last year for the first time in 11 years.

[Donnieb in reply to jeanjeannie50]

If I may "but" in: The medical community seems to have a very subtle sway on our 'guilt' factor, if you will... We carry this woulda, shoulda, coulda, stuff around with us about a lot of what we're told is "the thing to do", even tho our inner voice, our intuitive self, is trying to tell us all the while that we are on the right track by refusing to have alien chemicals shot into our bloodstreams... And of course the CONSTANT pharma ads on the TV (if you watch one of those things) will give you the idea that life will be soooo much better in every way if we just gobble as many meds as our doctor will deem good for us... after we've made an expensive appointment just to find out what that dose of unpronounceable compounds is supposed to be treating.... ("OH! I didn't KNOW I had THAT!") As a phrase from a song from the 1960's by Johnny Rivers called "Sweet Smiling Children" stated, "We wouldn't have invented a disease if there weren't something to take for it." Food for thought, to be sure... But a meal for the mouse is only a snack for the rat.

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

No I know, but really we're between many rocks and hard places with AF. I think you just have to go with your gut feeling about things and hope for the best. X

[WendyWu20]

As an ex nurse and also as I enjoy edging into conspiracy theory territory, I would never have a flu vaccination. We're continually exposed to 'threats' from bacteria, viruses, etc, yet my personal view is that we only succumb to illness from these if we don't maintain a positive attitude about our health and bodies and our environment. We have no idea what is in the vaccines; the information sheets may be designed to obfuscate at best, or be untruthful at worst.

But I had a little smile to myself two weeks ago, when my English GP surgery called me to ask if I wanted a jab. I'm 'only' 53, so they must have put me on their Doddery Cronky Persons list since being diagnosed with AF last year haha :o)

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to WendyWu20]

Hi Wendy, I'm sure that the vaccine does prevent flu. However, I just wonder what effects it has on other parts of the body! I've already been damaged by one drug which caused permanent damage elsewhere.

Jean

[CDreamer]

I am very, very hesitant about having it. I don’t think it prevents flu - to do that they would need to have the exact virus profile and as it is mutating all the time - but I can see that it may help your immunity which would help fight the disease. I’m not convinced it would be of any real advantage in a major pandemic and that is the real aim here - population protection.

My main concern is that I can’t have any live vaccines and although I am told there is a version with no live vaccine, I’m so concerned of a Mg flare resulting I guess I am more frightened of that than the flu, which I know would be very serious for me. I had the pneumonia jab though and then got pneumonia but it was viral not bacterial.

I did have flu in the 1970’s and was very ill for 3 weeks so I feel stuck between the rock and the deep blue.

Only 1 in 10 older people who have the flu jab benefit - front page news in the Telegraph evidently........

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to CDreamer]

It's a difficult choice isn't it, that's why I believe if someone chooses to have, or not have the flu jab, then that is the right thing for them.

Years ago I had a friend who was a homeopath, she would ask, "what comes the first the idea that you have a cold or the symptoms?" That really made me think, as last week I visited a National Trust property and one of the volunteers there was coughing away near me, much to my annoyance! A few days later I had a slightly sore throat and then came my cold. In that instance the idea I may get one certainly came first. Oh the power of the mind!

Jean

[doodle68]

Having the flu vaccination is not a guarantee that you won't get flu but it reduces the likelihood of getting some strains of flu and the severity of the illness and need for hospitalisation should you get it.

I always make sure I have the vaccination, better some protection than none. I have posted before about a friend's husband a fit man who contracted the flu and it caused inflammation around his heart and he died.

How much more vulnerable to complications are we who already have a problem with our hearts...

This is an interesting article explaining many details about flu...

cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccin...

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to doodle68]

Interesting to read Doodle, thank you.

Jean

[cassie46]

Like you Jean my first flu jab was in the 1960's provided by the place that I worked, three people out of about 30 that had it went down with very bad flu, I was okay no effects, except for a sore arm for a few days. Back then I believe that it was a live virus, I decided that I would not have the flu jab again.

six years ago my father had very bad flu, we thought we were going to loose him. He had always been against the flu jab but my mother always had one. My two sisters that nursed him caught it, my mother was fine and she had the most contact with him.

Last winter a close friend had flu badly, she had not had a jab, I had been in daily contact with her prior to her getting it and I was fine (I do have the flu jab). I decided five years ago when diagnosed with AF that on balance it was best to have the flu jab, so have had one every year since then with no side effects. I have also had the pneumonia jab and the shingles jab. I have also found that I have had less colds since having the flu jab, only two in five years.

So if it gives me some protection I am happy to keep having them.

Cassie

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to cassie46]

Hi Cassie, yes I may well have the pneumonia jab too and I'm glad you appreciate the benefits of your flu jab. I still can't convince myself to go ahead and have it though. I've been hearing recently about people who have had lasting soreness in their arms afterwards, which needed physiotherapy.

Jean

[irene75359 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I had pneumonia at the beginning of last year and this year (when I was rushed to hospital). I had had the pneumonia vaccine which, for me obviously didn't work. However, I think I was unlucky. I would rather take the chance that it might work than have pneumonia again!

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to irene75359]

Hmm that's interesting Irene, thank you for your post.

Jean

[cassie46 in reply to irene75359]

i irene - I had the same thing a couple years ago - was in hospital with chest infection which caused AF to take off. Consultant looked at my xrays and said you have had pneumonia in the last three months there is still a trace of it left. It was news to me I had not had any symptoms or been ill. I said I have had the jab, his comment was that it did not cover all strains of pneumonia!

Cassie

[Florence-Nightingale in reply to irene75359]

Hi irene75359. I think it might be worth mentioning the pneumonia vaccine only protects you from pneumococcal pneumonia which is the severe form can be deadly. All pneumonia is awful but maybe yours was a different strain.

[irene75359 in reply to Florence-Nightingale]

Ah - my discharge notes said 'community acquired pneumonia' but didn't detail which bacteria.

[cassie46 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

My arm is always a little sore after the jab - I guess because it is injected into the muscle, but it only last a few days and has never bothered me.

Cassie

[Jacqlihe]

Ihave had the flu vaccination about four years running , but last years

, a few days after having it I developped a raging temperature, very bad ear infection

Leading to perforated ear drum and was pretty ill for about three weeks

No I don t think so as at least two friends of mine had the same thing happen about

The same time after mine

I have said no as this sort of thing triggers arrythmia

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Jacqlihe]

Do you think it's the jab that triggers your arrhythmia Jacqlihe, or the infection?

Jean

[Jacqlihe in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Any form of bug does spark things off but this one started a chain of problems!

[Brizzy5000]

I've had the flu jab for the last 5 years and not had a bout of flu since but it might be because I retired from work 5 years ago so I have not been in a factory with all the coughs and flu,

Who knows I will keep having them apart from a sore arm for a day or two no side effects

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Brizzy5000]

That's good to hear that you keep flu free Brizzy. Did you ever have flu before having the jabs?

Jean

[Brizzy5000 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Yes I use to, but not that many so who knows?

[suenygaard]

Unless you have a compelling reason for not receiving the vaccine (allergy to one of the components, or past Guillain Barre syndrome), everyone should receive the vaccine. If you are reluctant to receive it for yourself, please get vaccinated to protect others. There are many people who are unable to mount an adequate immune response from vaccines (people who are receiving chemotherapy, people with immune systems that do not respond to vaccines) and we need to protect THEM by getting vaccinated so that we do not spread the virus to others. When you get the flu, you typically start to shed viruses from your nose and mouth a full 48 hours before you feel symptomatic. That means you have now spread the flu virus to all the people you have come in contact with. Please do this for the sake of yourself and of your community. It is perfectly safe, and still remains the best way to prevent the spread of influenza. Also, don't forget to wash your hands often.

[irene75359 in reply to suenygaard]

Thank you for that information. I hadn't considered that.

[doodle68 in reply to suenygaard]

I agree Sue contributing to 'herd immunity ' is something to consider.

[jeanjeannie50]

I tend to agree with your last sentence John. I wouldn't allow my daughters to have some of the jabs either. We had a friend who nearly lost their son after having the measles jab.

Jean

[CHRISAF18]

This is such a dilemma. I was I a and e Christmas morning. I had a virus and this affected my heart in fact it was my elevated temperature that was causing the problem. I say it was a virus rather than the flu which is a virus. I am not having the jab have never had it. I did have gastric flu about 28 years ago pretty miserable. I just don't trust that they will have the right strain and I am sure the worry if having it will cause me more anxiety. Regards Chris

[Droopy60]

My wife and I both had the flu jab together and I also had the pneumonia jab due to my AF and CHF. Both of us has had it before with no problem but this year the day after the jab I had no energy and the arthritis in my knee flared up so I couldn't walk for a week. At the same time my wife woke up in the middle of the night shivering violently, being sick and having breathing problems, this knocked her out for a week. Coincidence or what? But still preferable to getting flu.

[momist]

Thanks Jean, but I had the jab on Saturday, so too late for me . My wife had one too, for the first time (age related), and she's convinced it didn't go well for her, with a sore arm and feeling weird. I'll not show her your list I never felt a thing and haven't noticed any effect at all, but then I have B12 injections every 12 weeks and I'm used to ignoring it all.

[xdbx]

We're all different of course and have to do what's right for us.

I will definitely be having the flu jab because I'm over 65 (68), have PAF and am on corticosteroids for an inflammatory auto-immune disease and each of these puts me in the 'vulnerable' category.

I've had one every year for several years now and haven't had flu or any noticeable side effects.

I take extra-good care of myself in the weeks before and after the vaccination - plenty of sleep, gentle exercise, highly nutrient-dense diet and good stress management.

It may well be that putting these things in place are all I need to do for immunity, without the jab, but for me it's not worth the risk.

Previously, when I've had flu, I've been severely ill and it's taken weeks or even months to recover.

I always think twice though before I decide whether to have it and each year I read up on the pros and cons.

I don't spend time around children or other vulnerable, high-risk people but if I did I wouldn't even question it.

I'm very pleased to see that there's no mercury preservative (Thiomersal) in any of the UK flu vaccines this year: assets.publishing.service.g...

If you're having the shot in another part of the world ask for the mercury-free shot, which is the single-dose vial, and avoid the multi-dose vial.