Will I get the flu jab?: I am meant to... - Asthma Community ...

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Will I get the flu jab?

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I am meant to get my flu jab tomorrow. I've been coughing for well over a week now, no other symptoms, sputum is white, no sign of infection. Will they give me the jag or not?

My colleague is convinced they won't give it to me because she thinks the cough sounds ""bronchial"" whatever that is! Her son has severe treatment resistent asthma so she has a lot more experience than me but I don't want to cancel the appointment just in case I could actually get the jab. If I don't have it tomorrow then it will be after Christmas.

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It's probably worth taking your temperature - I was turned away for an early jab last year when my temperature was above 37.2, I think it was. I'm sure each surgery has their own criteria as regards who's 'too ill' to receive the jab: it's probably worth a phone call before setting out in the morning to see what your surgery policy is. Good luck!

According to my gp surgery I am not entitled to the flu jab even though I am on a steroid inhaler, ventolin inhale, monteleukast and uniphyllin I know I should be entitled as I work in a gp surgery but theyjustwont budge on it

in reply to

According to my gp surgery I am not entitled to the flu jab even though I am on a steroid inhaler, ventolin inhale, monteleukast and uniphyllin I know I should be entitled as I work in a gp surgery but theyjustwont budge on it

Hi Tricox, for your info....

Prior to the flu season each year, a letter from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Chief Nursing Officer(CNO) and the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPO) is sent to all doctors in England reminding them of the need for patients in certain risk groups to be offered annual influenza vaccination.

The Welsh CMO sends out a similar letter to doctors in Wales and a similar letter is sent from the Scottish Office to doctors in Scotland.

The CMO's advice is that you need a seasonal flu vaccination if:

You are aged 65 years or over

If you are aged 6 months or over and fall into the following risk group :

1. Chronic respiratory disease, including asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission

2. Chronic heart disease

3. Chronic renal disease

4. Chronic liver disease

5. Chronic neurological disease*

6. Diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs

7. Immunosuppression

8. Pregnant

Thus it seems they are going against DOH guidance....

Tricox, I'm sure there will be things on the net that you can print out to take to your GP to prove you are entitled to have the flu jab on the NHS. It seems that some surgeries are more flexible than others. I was told that I am entitled to have the flu jab on the NHS because my Mum has leukemia - that's not on that list but my surgery would have given it to me even if I didn't need it for the asthma.

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