Flu Jabs

Just looking for a consensus of opinion, are people starting to have their flu jabs now? I phoned my gp the other day and sounds like they are nowhere near ready to start jabbing people. I’m starting to wonder that despite government assurances, there will be a shortage.

[juderollo]

Yes, I had mine a week ago, your GP should be organising appointments now.

[Melanie1989]

It is very area dependent as at my surgery they are only administering over 65s in September and then everyone else through October onwards. Local pharmacy's are fully booked to, so I have no idea when I will get mine. I just hope to they have the supply to meet the demand 🤷‍♀️

[twinkly29]

Yes agree with Melanie - different areas do it differently and it depends when they get their stocks in.

[Troilus]

Our surgery hasn’t got theirs in yet. If you are under 65 you can go to one of the other surgeries in the group.

We aren’t going out at the moment and we are not allowed visitors (local restrictions) so we will just wait until they get them

Shouldn’t be too long. They are expecting them “any day now.”

[Definitelynotjeff]

The asthma consultant at the hospital said last week that it wouldn’t be ready until November but I managed to book with the doctors and had it today via a drive through system.

So I would imagine it varies wildly between doctors and location

[mylungshateme]

Hi agree all areas different I'm having mine with gp tomorrow. Received letter about 3 weeks ago stating as I'm in shielding group book asap as very limited supply first come first serve basis. Same with my toddler and nasal flu spray very short supply and high demand due to covid. Lots of people seem to be going to chemist's to get theirs or employer if in health and social care.

[Hidden in reply to mylungshateme]

So much for a gauranteed flu jab for those who need it another government failure 🙄

[mylungshateme in reply to Hidden]

Absolutely agree 👀everyone must have phoned the moment they got the letter as this was the first appointment I could get from 3 weeks ago! And toddler ones they're on 2nd batch... and don't know if will be able to get anymore... sure i read on here people using superdrug (i never knew they did them!) Boots and Lloyd's pharmacy maybe quicker than gp? Maybe.

[Hidden in reply to mylungshateme]

Yeah the boots attached to the practice is advertising them but shouldn’t have to go there when the go SHOULD have them, but I completely understand that I’m down the list for getting one

[AirIsUnderrated]

I work in a GPs' surgery and our stocks arrived on Friday for the first tranche of public jabs. I had mine done in work the week before from the staff batch.

[Hidden]

I had a message from my GP surgery 3 weeks ago to book mine, I did it on the patient access app on my phone and booked it for last week, I believe that I had one of the very first ones! As I work in a nursery I've been having the flu jab ever since I was diagnosed with asthma, even more so this year so got in as early as possible x

[Destiny10]

You can go to any pharmacy too get you flu jab, you dont have too wait for the drs.

[TrickyCarrie]

Had mine a couple of weeks ago

.

[Poobah]

I'm having mine this week at Boots as my GP practice is nowhere near organised this year. One year I couldn't get my flu jab until after Christmas. I'm pretty sure other pharmacies offer this service.

[Logo132]

Yes I had mine a couple of days ago at the local pharmacy. Your local pharmacy should be able to do it for you. It’s still free if you have asthma.

[Hidden]

I think the over 65s were asked to make appointments first at my local surgery; others who qualify for the free jab are now able to do so as well. But this year it is, for the first time, being done on an appointment basis only. Mine is booked for mid October.

[Nutzs47]

I’m having mine tomorrow .It’s the under 65 one as there’s a different one for the over 65’s apparently although I don’t know what the difference is so it might depend on where you fall age wise .

[Hidden]

Spritely approaching 50

[Hidden]

I got fed up with waiting for the GP website to produce anything coherent about the flu jab so booked with Boots the chemist, but my appointment is not until next week. A couple of days after booking this appointment the GP practice sent out a text message asking if I wanted an appointment for a flu jab. In the end decided to keep the chemist one and say no to the GP.

[Memoc]

I ve made apointment for a free flu jab on 12 of october at the surgery .

[Junglechicken]

I've had mine and my GP is undertaking a massive immunisation drive for those who are particularly vulnerable. The big healthcare centre close by me has been completely given up on weekends for flu jab clinics.

[daleboy3]

They are jabbing people who are over 70 first I had mine 8 days ago I must admit all year no colds but last two days sneezed at least 4 times a day so must be connected to the jab & feeling colder than normal, problems going to get worse as heating is on now

[madonbrew]

I’m getting mine next week & my parents over 65 are getting theirs following week although I think they somehow missed the drive through day on September 23!

[HungryHufflepuff]

My mum had her letter a couple of weeks ago though no date as yet when she can go to have the vaccine. I haven’t been contacted yet. Normally my mum and I are contacted on the same day. I’m wondering if they’re dealing with over 65s first. Reading what other people have said here, it seems to vary a lot from one region to another. Hopefully we’ll hear soon 🤞

[City77 in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

Have mine this coming Sunday in a local college. Seems like mass jagging is the way forward here

[Kegbuster]

Hi...

I had a text message from my GP over a week ago to book an appointment for the flu jab. I will having the jab on the 1st October.

[Hidden]

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply with your experiences, etc. I had a txt through today so have booked on a drive through session in the coming weeks. Never done it this way before, but out in the open, fresh air and sounds to be a safe alternative to a nurses room at the practise.

[Chip_y2kuk]

there is a shortage my gp and pharmacy have text me saying I'm eligible for a flu jab and neither of them can get me one and for the last few years they have both been desperate to give me one.... the last two I've picked up prescriptions and the pharmacy has said while your here give us an arm we will give you your flu jab too

This year: "call us around the 9th October we may have some in then but there is a shortage and so we may not"

[Hidden in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

I’m guessing they’ve expanded the eligibility criteria, thing is the government promised a jab for everyone

[secrets22]

i should have the flu jab but so far not booked it in,although i believe my practice are overwhelmed at present.

[Hidden in reply to secrets22]

I got a txt message one morning so booked online right away, one week to go

[LDloveslattecoffe]

Most surgeries do it in batches.

I rang mine in September and they said they were doing the over 65's first and would send text letters when doing next group.

I got my text rang and got mine done Mon 5th October 2020.

The earliest flu jabs in the autumn start in mid September and usually all done by mid November although people can still ask for them after this and have in Jan/Feb.

In our surgery you book the time there is NO waiting in waiting room.

Went in one door - temperature took and foot pump hand gel.

The nurse had a large screen in open empty waiting room (everyone wearing masks) does your jab there and then you are directed out another door (fire exit) into the car park.

[Hidden in reply to LDloveslattecoffe]

Ours is all being conducted at a local show ground, so sounds like it’ll either be given while in the car or in some mobile unit I’m not sure

[Poldarked14]

Had mine offered from our west Cornwall surgery at a rugby club ground, via patient access, 2weeks ago for under 65's & for first time ever had a bad reaction to it they think (?) & been sharply fluey since :/ . Been signed off wrk in a care home, asthma aggravated & jus finished prednisalone 5day course, but no better. Trying to shift this & get back as ok before. Taking multivits etc since had all the nasty covid symptoms back in jan /feb into march, pre mass testing, & was just known as "the bad winter chesty virus" by us, & dr's too, as did other colleagues. & experienced ongoing chest /fatigue issues in background since in varying degrees. Had various hosp tests due to a sudden hosp admission for apparent Atypical angina in June, & all not showing anything, due to chest pain had since caught it & also weird fatigue ditto. Have a gtn spray, but all from that cause , & only had mild asthma before! Have been told by dr. & asthma nurse this years flu jabs a stronger one they'd heard, so maybe's just me this strange year, as I'll always recommend em. So playing it by ear as we're all finding out as we go it seems..! 👍

[Hidden in reply to Poldarked14]

Thanks for your post, I'm off to Stithians this Saturday for mine. I'm interested in what you've said because I feel strongly I had Covid in the first week of February, I didn't have the all the key symptoms, but I ended up in A&E with a fast heart rate and not feeling right at he time, but was discharged and since then, I've had chest wall pain, bouts of anxiety which I'd never suffered with in all my time alive, heart wobbles and newly diagnosed hypertension. My Asthma was ok, but I remember needing to take it at night due to shortness of breath. Will see how I get on with this jab, didn't have one last year, but didn't come down with anything either until whatever I had in February.