Influenza Vaccine -

[suzy-lou]

Having watched the news about the number of hospitals declaring a critical incident and A&Es having been swamped by people with 'flu, I was wondering if there is any correlation between the uptake - or not - of the current 'flu vaccination and the rise in admissions? Has anyone else been thinking along these lines?

[sassy59]

Hi, l would just advise anyone who can have the flu vaccination to get it. Pete and l have it every year along with covid jabs and are glad we do. It’s being made worse by having RSV, Norovirus, Covid and flu all getting together to infect the population. Hospitals are overwhelmed.

Hope you’re keeping well.

[suzy-lou in reply to sassy59]

Hi Sassy. I couldn't agree more and would urge anyone who is able to do so gets vaccinated. It would be interesting to hear though ,how many people have contracted 'flu even though they have been vaccinated. I know of at least three people who have had the vaccine and now suffering with 'flu'. I wonder how many people being admitted to hospital with 'flu have had their vaccination? Keep warm and well x

[sassy59 in reply to suzy-lou]

I’m guessing some have but with other nasties doing the rounds I’m thinking some may have covid or RSV. It’s really awful at the moment

Take care xx

[Mopsey1897 in reply to sassy59]

My friend and neighbour caught RSV from one of her family but gp thought it was a chest infection and gave her antibiotics which didn’t have any effect. Apparently you have to be tested for RSV. She has COPD and is now severely ill in an induced coma and on a ventilator since Christmas Day and now awaiting a tracheostomy. She’s too young for the vaccine but is still vulnerable due to severe COPD so I can’t understand why people like her can’t be given it on NHS. RSV is rife at the moment, no idea why it’s so bad. Everyone should have the flu vaccine as well

[Welshcatlady in reply to Mopsey1897]

I'm sorry to hear about your friend and I agree those with Lung problems should get the RSV injection, I really can't understand why we don't get it. Hope your friend makes a good recovery soon.

[sassy59 in reply to Mopsey1897]

So sorry to hear about your friend Mopsey, that’s so sad. It’s ridiculous that you can only have the RSV vaccine between the ages of 75-79. Pete has severe COPD and I hate hearing about things like RSV that can be life threatening to people with lung problems.

I do hope your friend will recover soon.🙏🏻❤️

[B0xermad in reply to sassy59]

I find it incredible making it age related vaccine as why such a small window ? Obviously anyone can have it as babies pregnant women and elderly. Iam 65 now (only just) they agreed to me having it in December due to being susceptible to infections as most of us are on here.the nurse did say its relatively new to them and wasn't particularly sure of the side effects!

[LissacFrance in reply to B0xermad]

I`m not surprised that your nurse said it was realtively new as here in France nobody as heard of it. RSV vaccine is only given to babies. We only heard about it when we were back in UK. We both have flu, Covid vaccines and touc wood escape most problems. Have a good day, and don`t get too excited about RSV. Chris.

[B0xermad in reply to LissacFrance]

Hi chris thank you for that response it's a strange one some know about it others don't, I haven't had any side effects from it so all good.I hope you both feel better soon as this flu is rife here at the moment. Best wishes

[sassy59 in reply to B0xermad]

That’s great you having the vaccination and it should be open to a much wider age group especially people with chronic lung disease.

Take care and keep warm xxx

[deejames in reply to sassy59]

Iwas offered the RSV vaccine yet I am only 74 !

[sassy59 in reply to deejames]

Yay! That’s really good. Xxx

[suzy-lou in reply to Mopsey1897]

So sorry to hear of your friend, Mopsey, and agree that it's so unfair that vulnerable people are being denied the RSV vaccine. In my prayers for a recovery very soon x

[B0xermad in reply to Mopsey1897]

I wish your friend well and a good recovery, at such a worrying time for you and her family 🤞

[PaperQueen in reply to Mopsey1897]

I am sorry to hear about your friend. x

[Collie4 in reply to suzy-lou]

I had my flu vaccination as i do every year, however i contracted the flu and have been ill for 3 weeks, never felt so ill. Had prednisolone and antibiotics and hopefully now recovering.

So it is very disconcerting when you get so poorly with flu even though you have been vaccinated. Is it that the vaccine doesn’t cover all strains of flu?

[Yess1e in reply to Collie4]

They can only pick three strains, it's a trivalent vaccine. I read they'd not chosen the ones currently circulating which is why there's so much flu.

[watergazer in reply to suzy-lou]

I’ve had all my vaccines and I got the flu on top of a flare up so spent some time in hospital at the end of November x

[Turnipgirl in reply to sassy59]

We had our flu vaccines in Boots back in October!

[O2Trees]

They said on the news that the dire hospital situation is partly due to low uptake of the flu vaccination.

[suzy-lou in reply to O2Trees]

Thank you, 02Trees. I missed that on the news. It does make sense so let's hope that the powers -that-be make a point of stressing the importance of the vaccination next time round. The NHS cannot cope with this winter demand every year .

[Wessytessy13]

I've had all my Covid jabs,Flu Jabs.Am on Antibiotics for 15 days and Steroids for 15 day . As early just finished 5 days of Antibiotics And 5 days Steroids. Until my sputum test came back. That's why am on different ones. Lower tract infection with asthma flare up and Serratia liquefaciens.never felt as ill. Coughing ,Fever, Wheezing , Should have phoned 999 but didn't fancy 50 hours in A&E. Lucky my sputum test came back and hope am on the right Antibiotics and Steroids.

I already take Fostair, Spiriva Respimat, Montelukast ,Fexofenadine, Inhaler. This is my 2nd infection since new year. And in 2024 10 infections

[Jonn54]

Hi suzy-louYes i have it would be good to know the correlation between having the flu jab and those currently requiring trearment in hospital today?

[PW_R in reply to Jonn54]

For the most part I assumed everyone in hospital was either elderly or had chronic lung disease and that the vaccines made little difference .

[Gummybearx]

I had the flu vaccine back in the beginning of October, caught a cold in November,couldn't shift the cough and then caught flu over christmas and still struggling now. Debating on ringing gp but am just exhausted. Have had my vit d and iron tested which are low so upped my doses

[gingermusic]

I think everybody should have the Flu jab glad we did

[Thinkhealthy]

it’s a triple whammy it seems with winter bugs - so very serious for many. A few years ago when I couldn’t shift post flu exhaustion I asked a local chemist - he recommended Rodoxon . It’s zinc vitamin c echinacea and propolis - it’s a brilliant booster - both preventative and helps restore your immune system . It’s a desolvable tablet , orange flavored. I’m not saying it’s a magic cure all by any means but here in Spain most households take it during seasonal changes - its the constant hot to cold to hot temperatures that they blame for people getting respiratory illnesses here. Spaniards complain about the weather all the time too.

[Yess1e]

There seem to be many factors this year. I read that 75% of over 65's had their flu vaccines but only 35% of anyone else. I also heard the strains they chose aren't what's circulating. Then there are those people now anti-vax since Covid. The flu vaccination typically lasts 3 months, so that can also be why there's an up tick at the end of Jan, Feb as it's worn off. I'm finding it scary all these respiratory illnesses. Especially as I can't have the Covid vaccine due to a reaction.

[PW_R in reply to Yess1e]

I would have thought the uptake in Jan was due to people abroad bringing back other strains when returning for Christmas. Combined with constant social mixing for 10 days straight, leading to the current explosion. It’s the same very year. Except this year the incorrect strains were chosen for the vaccine. Also people with COPD are living longer but more and more people are being diagnosed, meaning there’s even more vulnerable people. COPD is set to be the 2nd biggest global killer by 2030, its currently third.

[PaperQueen]

I don't know, maybe people just got overload during Covid and are not bothering now. There seem to be so many things going around this winter, it does seem to be particularly bad. I would have thought that anyone with a lung condition should be able to have any of the vaccines that affect our lungs, including RSV no matter what our age.

[Mopsey1897]

Thank you to everyone for your kind thoughts about my friend. She now has a tracheostomy and they’ve woken her up successfully from her coma. She can’t talk yet but is aware of what’s happened. xx

[Maximonkey]

Hi Suzy-lou, it was on the news that the uptake for flu vaccine this year had dropped and the doctors are thinking this is the reason for the hospitals being over crowded. Many people as you will know from the posts on this site have been so fed up with vaccine after vaccine they have opted out this year. I myself have had all 3 vaccines offered and hopefully I will stay well. Fingers crossed. The chemists near me are still offering the vaccine and I strongly advise anyone on this forum to have the jab asap. Take care, Maximonkey