Flu shot

[jossikins]

I cannot see where my last answer is but my husband and I are going for the fluu jab next week. We are both now in our early 80's and we will take anything that is going. I have no argument. It has kept us healthy until now,

[Smokie2D]

Flu jabs are the marmite thing seemingly. Your either for it or hate it, not a lot of in between. Whatever works for you. I

[jossikins in reply to Smokie2D]

Well, I will opt for the positive!! Give me that shot!!

[pottypete1]

Had my flu jab this morning, no brainer as far as I am concerned.

Pete

[jossikins in reply to pottypete1]

Same for me!!

[jossikins in reply to pottypete1]

I totally agree with you, Pottypete!

[Lizzo in reply to pottypete1]

I will always have it! Proper flu is very nasty, and when your health is already compromised it can be fatal. I know that the jab can't cover all strains of the virus, but it is still worth having the protection that it can give you, in my eyes.

[jossikins]

It's everyone's choice, John. The flu jab does not cover the common cold, nor can it cover every single strain of the flu. However, if it finds you standing in its path, the symptoms of what could be a potential killer will be greatly alleviated. And because it is a choice, I will be attending our local surgery next Saturday for my jab. May your good luck continue!

[Ianp66]

Had mine last week, like Pete said, no brainer, covers the worst strains predicted, not a guarantee but a bit of insurance, every little helps.

[MydogBrandy in reply to Ianp66]

I am debating whether to have it along with my Colin. We are flying to Tenerife on 25th and it’s a do we or don’t we? I had my ablation in January s table free now but Colin is on loads of tablets, had a stent fitted, had a kidney out due to cancer which they also took out and is now having nodules on his lung monitored. My question is will it make us feel ill, had one last year and we were fine but I know they are different strains so is it best waiting till we get back, then there are people saying an aircraft is a germ breeding capsule???? Any suggestions helpful please

[Ladypaula in reply to MydogBrandy]

I had mine last week.I always have it . I work in a hospital environment where I am at high risk of being infected and we are actively encouraged to have it.But even if I didn't work in the hospital environment I would still have it .The only reaction I have ever had from it is a sore aching arm but I feel that's worth it.

[MydogBrandy in reply to Ladypaula]

Thanks Ladypaula have decided to have it,

[suenygaard in reply to MydogBrandy]

Great decision!!

[Auriculaire in reply to MydogBrandy]

An aircraft is definitely a good place to catch germs. If flying in winter we wear masks. You might get funny looks but we flew to UK and back 3 times in early 2017 and caught nothing.

[MydogBrandy in reply to Auriculaire]

Thanks so much for answering, have decided to have it. I love this site, so helpful for getting honest opinions x

[seasider18 in reply to MydogBrandy]

I've been on many planes that are flying sanitoriums.

[MydogBrandy in reply to seasider18]

Hi, definitely having it now

[seasider18 in reply to MydogBrandy]

I've had one for about the last thirty years as the company I worked for did not want us off sick My wife used to get one as well when she was a nurse.

[MydogBrandy in reply to seasider18]

Thanks seasider18

[Ianp66 in reply to MydogBrandy]

Never feel ill of it, it's not a live vaccine thats a urban myth, had it every year past 5/6 years and it's doesn't have any effect on me, like you say planes are germ carriers, wouldn't hesitate.

[MydogBrandy in reply to Ianp66]

Thanks definitely having it x

[Desanthony in reply to MydogBrandy]

We had ours back on 24th September - always have it as early as you possibly can. If you have it at least 10 days before you fly you should be OK. Whatever you decide enjoy your holiday.

[MydogBrandy in reply to Desanthony]

Thanks so much Desanthony, (love your photo by the way), yes going to ring doctors in morning , flying on 25th, just didn’t want anything to go wrong, had such a rough year we are going away with our son and daughter and grandchildren. x

[Desanthony in reply to MydogBrandy]

Neither myself nor my wife have ever had any problems with the flu vaccine and didn't this year. Of course we are all different and can't say whether you will or will not have a reaction yourselves. Think positive though and enjoy your time away with your family. The photo is of my 2 lovely grandsons and is quite out of date because they are 12 and 15 this year - time flies!

[MydogBrandy in reply to Desanthony]

Thanks so much, yes looking forward to it, yes times flies and it’s nice to be able to make nice memories whilst we are fit enough to enjoy. My grandchildren are 9 and 11 and we are so looking forward to being with them for a full week . x

[Desanthony in reply to MydogBrandy]

You will have a wonderful time. My grandsons are in Florida and not sure if I am up to traveling out there this Christmas as my knee is painful from my op. Am hoping that it will get better but not planning anything at the moment.

[Aprilbday in reply to Ianp66]

This year it’s missing 2 strains. But something is better than nothing.

Reference: statnews.com/2019/09/30/flu...

[Ianp66 in reply to Aprilbday]

As I said I agree about not covering all , won't cover each and every strain as that's how flu mutates, but some protection is better than none in my book.

[cycleman73]

Yep next week defo for us two, mandatory, must have... just hope they have the right

strain of flu tho. LOL !

[Hidden]

Got mine tomorrow. Di

[Enjoy]

Got my jab Thursday night and went into AF at 5 a.m. the following morning. Maybe coincidence but it was the first AF session I have had since my ablation 3 and a half years ago.

[Aprilbday in reply to Enjoy]

Enjoy, Wow. Hopefully, it did not last long.

[Enjoy in reply to Aprilbday]

9 hours.. digoxin got it back into rhythm happily.

[Robinson1 in reply to Enjoy]

Oh now that’s concerning! I was planning to go get stuck this week but may not now. My ablation was 3 hrs ago in Jan. I have some flip flops if I lose sleep or get run down so I’m always careful not to poke the beehive!!

[Desanthony in reply to Enjoy]

Bother. Thats bad news. thankfully had mine and AF still OK. Had second cv in July and so far so good. Ont he waiting list for an ablation.

[Thomas45]

The only time I can remember having flu was about fifty years ago. It was a terrible experience over about three weeks. That was at a time when I had someone to look after me.

Now I have no one, but as well as permanent AF, I also have chronic asthma, urticaria and. In my lower legs lymphoedema. . If flu struck I would probably be admitted to hospital, taking up a bed.

Of course I've had the flu jab this autumn. It would be selfish not to do all in my power to prevent hospital admission.

[Aprilbday in reply to Thomas45]

Hi Thomas, It is frightening to me as I have similar issues. I read a few articles about getting 2 flu shots , 30 days apart.

I’m still looking into that. I may get a second one because I don’t think the nurse got my muscle. I think she got just the fatty layer which I gave a lot of unfortunately. Usually vaccinations into my muscle makes me rather sore but I felt nothing this time .

[Thomas45 in reply to Aprilbday]

The nurse found my muscle. I had two days of soreness after the jab.

[jossikins in reply to Thomas45]

But surely that is small potatoes compared to what the flu virus can do to you?!

[Thomas45 in reply to jossikins]

Yes. I was just replying to Aprilbday who'd mentioned that one way you know it's gone in the muscle is the soreness.

[Aprilbday]

I agree. Just got mine yesterday even though this year’s virus’ is missing 2 of the 4 known strands if you live in Northern Hemisphere. I took it anyway because 2 is better than zero protection.

Reference: statnews.com/2019/09/30/flu...

[seasider18]

It does not stop you from getting a cold. Flu symptoms ? You either have it or not and many winter things seem to some to be like flu. So many people say "I've had a touch of Flu"

[allserene]

You do right ! Early 80s means you can't be messing with REAL flu... In 1919 it killed millions and they were mostly in their 20s, whereas kids and the older generation got off lighter usually....... My grandad was killed in the 1st war in 1917, and I tried to look up what happened to his buddies who survived... Many of them died of flu in 1919 as they were just the wrong age (20s)... I am booking my flu shot tomorrow as I have this atrial flutter and I cant be battling flu at the same time.....

[Aprilbday in reply to allserene]

Thank you for that history reference. I went back to read it and 50 MILLION people died from the flu!!! 50 Million!!! Can’t understand when folks reject a little protection from something so disastrous!

[jossikins in reply to Aprilbday]

You are a gem!! This is such a dramatic and poignant reply. Anybody, I feel, who opts out, is playing Russian roulette with their health, particularly if they are older.

[allserene in reply to Aprilbday]

Seems the internet it where conspiracy theorists hang out, and I check info carefully before I believe it.. I conclude that flu shots help with a sizeable proportion of flu bugs and last 6 months... If this year's bugs are not zapped by this years spec, then oh well we tried, and that's all we can do.. I took Lamisil for my rotting toenails that had been a horror for 15 years , and I was totally cured 3 years ago and my toenails are beautiful ! Zero side effects. The Internet is full of people with long wild gray hair and blood shot pop-out eyes, who warn that it will kill your liver and is a dangerous poison !

[jossikins in reply to allserene]

Allserene - I think I like you!! Conspiracy theorists beware! May sheer common sense prevail! And, if I ever get rotting toenails, I will remember "Lamasil"!!

[allserene in reply to jossikins]

Rotting toenails is very bad for one's sense of well-being... I was as chuffed as Tony the Tiger when I was miraculously 100 % cured... and it didn't return..... Spent years and years dunking my feet in apple cider and bleach and painting on expensive snake-oil treatments like tea-tree (Always from mysterious far-off lands).. Similarly with Cyberknife for my prostate cancer..all the internet ghouls said I would end up in diapers/nappies for life, but it worked out fine in 2007 and my PSA (prostate specific antigen), dropped from 6.4 to 0.4... My son is a beat-up 49 year old alcoholic, so I dont need my prostate to create more of those... lol...

[reinaway]

Exactly the same as my husband and I !! We are so lucky to have the NHS!😄

[suenygaard]

Whoo hoo!! Good for you!!

[Desanthony]

the Flu injection does not stop you having colds. Full on influenza is really bad - not just a week of sniffles, coughs and sneezes but 2 weeks or more of fever, vomitting and loss of weight. I have only in my nearly 76 years had actual influenza twice and both times was laid up for weeks - I smoked at the time so that didn't help either but did lead a healthy life exercising every day. I have had the flu vaccination since I was 65 and my wife has had it since she was in her early 30's when it was suggested for her because she is asthmatic - what a difference it has made to her. She can now pretty much sale through the winters with no need for antibiotics due to chest infections - before she quite often had 2 or 3 rounds of antibiotics for this every year.

[lovetogarden]

Have been getting the flu shot every year for decades. And grateful that it’s not a live vaccine so that I can have it! Protects me and protects others around me. Herd immunity! I feel strongly that we should do what we can to help protect others.

With an autoimmune disease and taking immune suppressing meds, I can’t have live vaccines like the measles booster jab. Would hate to be the carrier of that to my infant grandson. We did do other booster shots so we could visit him as a newborn without any fears of transmitting anything,

[myrnalynn52]

I have the flu shot every year, I worked for many years in the health care field and have seen to many older people way sicker , hospitalized , with a bad flu that there systems cannot fight , I also have seen the flu kill people whose bodies were already compromised , had they had the shot they might still be here.

[Ianc2]

If I have to travel on any form of public transport I always get as close to the front as possible because that is usually where the incoming air is introduced. On aircraft I try and use the air vent to blow down air in front of me in the hope of deflecting germs, carry alcohol based cleaning wipes and disinfect the food trays and my fingers before eating anything.

[jossikins in reply to Ianc2]

The worst flight I ever endured was coming back from Sri Lanka, a couple of years ago, when the aircraft was freezing, almost everybody was coughing and, as it was a night flight, there were no pleasant little interludes of "coffee? tea? glass of wine?" That night seemed endless. Within a week I was diagnosed with pneumonia which was an undoubted result of that awful flight. It put me off any more long haul flights unless I could travel first class and, as that seems unlikely, I rather doubt that I will be flying great distances any more.

[Ianc2]

Sounds like a good plan to me. Europe has a lot to offer and I can usually get there from local airports.

[solarjdo69]

I'm with you John6! I haven't ever and won't ever have a "fool" shot.

I also see that quite a few pf my relatives and frinde get the shot and then have issues.

I do preventive maintenance during cold and flu season:

1. Weekly, sometimes 2 times weekly in the thick of it tablespoon of pro-biotics.

2. Stock TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Yin Qiao Jie Du Pian

activeherb.com/coldsignoff/

[Brianboru]

No argument. If it is on offer then take it. They have all worked for me for years and I am at a similar age to you.

[MydogBrandy]

Hi everyone, I did it thanks for all your help. We both went for it yesterday. Didn’t realise they are different types, 24 to 65 years old and over 65 yrs apparently the first lot gives a stronger protection. Luckily I don’t feel ill neither does Colin, but my arm is still hurting..... I can put up with that. Looking forward to Tenerife on 25 th now. X

[seasider18]

There has been a big epidemic in Australia and it it usually follows here. For some reason the Mail is warning Americans but not us.

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

And Australian vegans were telling people its animal product and they should not have it !

dailymail.co.uk/news/articl...

[jossikins]

Too late - I have long since had it and have remained flu free ever since. However, I will read the article mentioned with an open mind.

[jossikins]

It's not an article, it is a book and too involved for me to read and ingest properly. It is a different approach and deserves respect, however I will stick with the scientific approach that has thus far suited me. The world is filled with contradictions and we can only go with what we choose is personally right for us as individuals.