Flu jab side effects in asthmatics?

[AirIsUnderrated]

Have you had your flu jab yet?

Did you have/have you had side effects from the flu vaccine?

If you did, may I ask what they were?

[Troilus]

Hi there. I always have the flu jab and I have never had any problems, neither did my dad, who also had asthma.

I got an text for the surgery, saying something like book your flu in preparation for the Covid vaccine........interesting.

[twinkly29 in reply to Troilus]

I suspect they're just using the covid tagline as a way to make people think oh yes I need to be covered as much as possible for flu - the more people are less at risk from flu, the less pressure there will be on hospital beds and the NHS in general.

I also have the flu jab every year and the only side effect I've had is a slightly bruised feeling on my arm where it's done. It's not a live vaccine so absolutely can't give you flu.

[Troilus in reply to twinkly29]

More than likely, twinkly.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

The only time I’ve ever really had an issue was when I had the jab on 40 pred just out of hospital (24-72 hrs can’t remember now 😅)

I wanted to double check before dose as there was some query about having it on high dose pred/unwell, however I got stabbed then got asked if I was well. When I explained the situ I got ‘errr. I’m sure it’ll be ok’. I was back in hosp within the next weeks with ‘an infection’ which I think was just my body getting used to stab (first day had signs of bacterial infection even tho I knew it wasn’t that, a&e treatment but sent home as no beds as abg was ok, back just as bad the next day asthma wise admitted as now a bed, but bacterial infection markers had disappeared). Never had an issue when on low/no pred, had the above situ twice when on high pred (the first was the year prior hence me wanting to ask 😅). Now I just make sure if high I cancel appt.

So for me the only issues I get is when I’m already unwell and I get virus-like symptoms enough to affect my lungs, lasting 3-5 days I think. When I’m well it’s only an achy arm etc.

Booked in for this year but can’t access it (due to age) until end of October at the earliest

Hope this helps

[Singinglouder in reply to EmmaF91]

Hi Emma. Interesting that you can’t have a flu jab yet - our surgery is starting with people who were asked to shield & their households (this Friday), with ‘normal’ older people starting next week.

And to answer the original question, this will be my 24th flu jab, and I’ve never had a reaction. Rubella shot, on the other hand...

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Singinglouder]

I haven’t even had a ‘don’t forget your flu jab’ message yet. Only just managed to get an appt at boots cause I was collecting meds the day they opened up young people’s slots (22/10 is my appt). Last year I got no reminder either so 🤷‍♀️. Again last year with the shortage I don’t think I managed to ‘find’ one until November.

However where I live the average age is 49/50, and is the oldest region in the country last year so...😅 (we are also the hotspot for baby boomers and the silent generation as of last year)

[Singinglouder in reply to EmmaF91]

Sometimes I’ve had to be quite proactive about booking my jab, or just respond to a general call, but this year they’re clearly determined not to miss anyone. I went for my B12 shot & was given a flu jab appointment by the receptionist as soon as I arrived, then the nurse tried to give me another one when I got in. Sitting in the waiting room when I went for blood tests, everyone who came in or phoned for any reason was being asked about flu jabs - that’s how I worked out it was shielding first!

It’s been an exciting life since shielding eased, hasn’t it! To the surgery twice in two weeks, then tomorrow I’m off to the hospital for a CT scan on my lungs, followed by the flu jab on Friday - practically dissipated😊.

[Melanie1989 in reply to EmmaF91]

Exactly the same! You can tell we live in the same county 😂 I struggle every year to book then get 'told off ' by the consultant for not having my flu jab!

[mylungshateme in reply to Melanie1989]

I remember one year I could not get a slot for flu jab etc etc ended up on ABX most of the winter dr said "you should have had your flu jab to prevent this" i was so cross now i keep on an remind them how many appointment slots I needed because I didn't have a jab! 🤣😂.

But this year got a letter about 10 days ago saying to book a jab asap as on shielding list and its limited supply first come first serve basis. Mines on 28/9.

Sometimes get achey arm sometimes feel really unwell almost fluey but I obviously would have come down with it anyway as not live vaccine. But affects everyone differently.

[twinkly29 in reply to EmmaF91]

Same here - no contact yet from surgery. They started 65+ jabs at the beginning of the month but haven't yet got the other adult ones in yet.

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to EmmaF91]

Thank you. This is all interesting.

I had mine done yesterday at work. No anxiety - had it done the year before with no issues whatsoever, the nurse was great, it didn't hurt, bleed, ache or anything. But within an hour and a half (6:30pm and I didn't finish till 7pm) my chest tightened up for the first time in the last week since I've been on Fostair. I didn't have my Fostair with me and there was nobody to ask if I could use my Salamol, so I didn't. I got home 7:30 and took my usual evening Fostair dose but I was already coughing by then, and though the tightness went away, since then my chest has been aching, sore, itchy and generally inflamed inside. I feel as if I'm back to square one again.

My PF was still good even though my chest was tight. It has been much improved with Fostair.

So is this likely to be a coincidence and nothing to do with the jab?

[twinkly29 in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

I would say coincidence/more likely not having used a reliever inhaler when you needed it (for the reasons you explained) so the asthma niggles have already set in and then you had the backlash from that. Use your salamol if you need it and it should settle back down.

When you said there wasn't anyone to ask, did you mean using it in general or because of you being at the docs?

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to twinkly29]

Both really. The resp nurse had gone home, the doctors were all seeing or calling patients and I’m not allowed to make calls to my own surgery whilst at work. I asked the nurse who gave me the shot and she didn’t know. Management had all gone home too.

I was worried that using the Salamol with Fostair would make me VERY wobbly. I was just given the Fostair with no consultation. I haven’t been told what I’m allowed to take.

[twinkly29 in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

Regarding using an inhaler in a doctor's surgery, I'd say yes. It's a necessary treatment etc and is breathing something in anyway.

Think of Fostair as any other preventer inhaler - yes it has a long-acting bronchodilator in it but people still need (occasionally if control is good, or more often when it's not) a short-acting bronchodilator, ie salbutamol. So, do example, I have Symbicort but also terbutaline as a reliever.

Some people do take Fostair on the MART regime (so regularly twice a day and then a certain number of extra puffs allowed as relief) but that would have been discussed with you if that was the case. However, the people using it that way are still taking extra inhaler at times of need.

So either way, relief is sometimes required on top of the preventer. I think if it did cause raised heart rate or feeling shaky it would be pretty short-lived - and probably better than not having it and then kind of suffering longer with your asthma as a result.

I think that's what you meant? Sorry if it wasn't and I misunderstood!

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to twinkly29]

Thank you! ❤️

I meant that I work in a doctor’s surgery but I’m registered at a different doctor’s surgery. My own GPs haven’t told me anything, just texted me saying they’d sent my brand new inhaler script to the pharmacy. The pharmacist explained about how to use the inhaler physically (spacer/counter/cleaning etc.) but not what to do if it didn’t help or if I needed extra.

I’m fortunate to work in a doctor’s too - and the nurse there gave me my jab - but it just happened that there was nobody around to ask unofficially either.

I just rang my GP surgery and got told to ring the pharmacy or 111. Pharmacist said to use Salamol. I have and it’s helped quite a lot so must be the right thing. Am now spilling my tea, dropping things and knocking stuff over! And my Fostair is due in an hour - goodness knows what I’ll be like then. I’ll get dinner made then just sit down until I stop being a health hazard. Is it a bad think to drink wine through a straw? 😘😘😘

[twinkly29 in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

You might find that the Fostair doesn't knock you for six now your body's used to it, whereas the salbutamol is less common for you since starting the Fostair so that had a bigger "oooh remember me?!" effect - I think you found that a while ago with the Qvar, when you needed salb less often? Or maybe I made that up 😅

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to twinkly29]

Haha! I’m not exactly trembly after taking Fostair for a week, but I’m clumsy and uncoordinated all the time now which I never have been before. I’d say it feels like being left-handed all over if you’re right-handed. Does that make sense? Salb mostly makes me spill things for the first hour. I wouldn’t try plucking my eyebrows! 🤣

I’ve just never tried the 2 together before, but I’m about to find out what happens. 🤪

[elanaoali in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

Hi AirlsUnderrated

I just saw your post about fostair. I got the shakes at first when I started using it. (fostair Nexhaler 200/6 2 puffs twice a day). Now I take it and yes my hand shakes a bit but it disappears really quickly. I been on it for about 2 years.

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to elanaoali]

Thank you. That’s reassuring. 😊

[Poobah]

I've had the flu vaccine every year forever, no side effects. However, one year the nurse did check that I hadn't started a course of oral steroids. And I'm always asked if I've had a temperature in the last week.

This year I've booked my flu jab with Boots as my GP surgery is way behind in organising vaccine clinics this year, nothing being advertised even. I've done that before as I couldn't get an appointment at my GP surgery until after Christmas as they started late.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

I had it yesterday - surgery invited me for Friday, link didn't work but was there already for something else and they immediately said 'do you want a flu jab?' Yes please! If I so much as go past them at this time of year they will usually jump out and try to stab me; I was literally walking into the GP's room once and before I'd even sat down or said hello he was advancing on me with a jab lol.

(Today I got a text asking me to come for an annual asthma review - gah are you for real? I was just there yesterday and you kept asking me if anything else, could you not have done it then? It's not like my surgery can do anything lol - mostly they don't even bother asking me for a review).

Usually I get a sore arm from the jab but nothing more. I have had it while on continuous pred and don't remember anything happening, though I was just at a 'baseline' level of symptoms. If I'd waited till I was symptom-free and not on pred I would never have had it, but I did try to avoid getting it when really flaring, if given the choice.

Round here some of the independent pharmacies are offering them for walk-ins - not sure how common this is but worth looking into. Obviously there may be universal supply issues but I usually find Boots are booked up for ages then randomly cancel appts so have never managed to have one there. I've also had it with Superdrug who usually do on the spot if you're ok to wait for a bit - so that may also be worth a go for anyone who is near one.

[lakelover]

I had mine last Saturday. Only side effect was a sore arm.

[TeachKat]

I had my jab 4 days ago and have absolutely no side effects. Last year I had a quite sore arm for a week after the jab but not this time.

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to TeachKat]

Last year I had a sore arm for about two weeks. Weird 🤔

I haven’t been contacted yet this year about the flu jab, hopefully I’ll hear something soon.

[elanaoali]

I am due to have my few jab on the 4th October at my doctors surgery. Actually it will be in the car park under an event shelter to help keep everyone safe. I will have to wear a mask too.

I have had a flu jab for the last 4 years. All I get is a sore arm for a day or so.

[Valsha]

We had ours 10 days ago. Husband has severe bronchiectasis which is why we seem to have been at the head of the line, I think. I have asthma. Neither of us has any after effects at all. I am urging all my family to get one. Grandchildren have already been offered at school.

[Bridie108]

Hi there

I had mine on Saturday.....zero side effects I've been aware of, not even a sore arm.

I've never had one before as my asthma was mild, but I caught it last December and ended up hospitalised for 10 days so I decided to have it this year.

All the best

[skippy11]

I have a severe asthma attack after flu vaccines but that is because of the egg protein. There are very limited amounts of these available either at work or GP so I never seem to get one of those. Haven’t had flu vaccine for over 10 years now and (touch wood) have not had a severe bout of flu yet. As soon as I get cold symptoms I’m quick with over the counter remedies and GP is quick with steroids if I worsen

[Memoc]

Hi, I had the flu jab every year and I ve always been ok. Never had any side efect. I 'll do ot this year as well .

[Usa2elsewhere]

I had the worst pain in that area counting all past shots. Even my allergy shots were never that bad. I couldn't lay on that arm the first night, which seemed extreme. The next day it improved greatly. Hope you feel better by now.

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to Usa2elsewhere]

Thank you! Yes, 2 days and quite a bit of salbutamol later and my breathing is much more comfortable. Arm is fine!

Heading back out on the road to recovery. I just wish I didn’t have to keep pulling over so often!

[Hidden]

Was seeing my lovely GP yesterday re my current asthma flare-up, at the end of the consult he mentioned flu jab and asked why I hadn't had one for nearly 10 years!! We had a quick discussion on the pros and cons, and I decided to have one. To my surprise he had some in his consulting room and it was done 5 seconds later!!!! So far, just an aching arm...........

[Col2020]

Whenever I’ve managed to get it in previous years Ive always been really rough afterwards (flu like symptoms and off work). However I’m naturally small (7stone), so more child size than adult size really. Always wondered if I should have the child vaccine instead, as I know sometimes things are based on a persons weight, not age!?

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to Col2020]

Yes I’ve often thought the same. I’m 5’3” and now 9st but I used to be well below 8. I know 12 year olds who are much bigger than I am but would be given the child’s dose of meds. And tiny old ladies with slow metabolisms could get the same adults’ dosage as 6’4” rugby players.

I’m a lot better at getting side effects than the intended effects of meds!

[Anniecath]

I have had bad reactions as joints swell up and painful, this can last for weeks sometimes months. Arthritis like symptoms. Never had joint problems before I had the jab.

[Hidden]

I had mine just over a week ago, I've been having them for the last three years since I was diagnosed with asthma... the first year I was fine, didn't even really have that much of a sore arm just at the site of the injection for a day or two, I did get a bit of post nasal drip and had to use my inhaler the next day but was fine after that... last year was the worst, I felt absolutely awful the next day with aches and stuffy head and just generally feeling unwell, I also had a reaction at the site of the injection which was very red and painful and spread and lasted about a week or so but then went as quickly as it came... this year I had a slight sore arm for a day or two at the site of the injection, and felt a bit tired and nauseous the evening of the injection but was fine the next day... so all in all yes there are side effects, I think it varies person to person and year to year, but from my experience they are nothing compared to having the flu! X

[Beach_48]

Hi, sorry this is a reply from a post 10 days ago. I had the flu jab 5 days ago and have been feeling terrible after it. It may be that i already had a bug prior to the jab, i had a cold sore on the day but as i was wearing a mask, not visible and just didnt think to say anything. It was only after the jab that the nurse asked if id been feeling ok. I know its not a live vacine but flu like symptoms and a tight chest. I have mild asthma.

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to Beach_48]

Poor you. I hope it clears up quickly. There are so many bugs that aren’t flu or Covid. Hopefully the hands/face/space thing will help keep those at bay too.

[Echoblue]

I can’t have flu or swine flu vaccination as I ended up admitted a few hours after each now(egg doesn’t affect me so not sure what did as was asthma flare each time). That was a few years ago when my asthma was particularly unstable and allergies very twitchy, so may not affect me so badly now, however no one wants to take that chance.

Despite that I did receive the text inviting me for flu vacc as on the shielding list. Whether to have the Covid one could be an interesting dilemma for me!