How on Earth will they manage Flu injections in the UK?

[Harvist]

Discussed this with a few people recently. The flu jab programme in surgeries has been a cause of much irritation over the last few years. Some practices have sessions where you just turn up, others have allocated times for people depending on your surname. My surgery has tried both with varying degrees of success. On one occasion I turned up and the queue stretched back hundreds of metres. With social distancing and sanitising requirements how can they work it?

And for our group it's even more important we get in early.

Bet you our government hasn't offered any guidance yet.

[Newdawn Administrator]

I’d anticipated mass vaccination programmes taking place in community centres, clubs, schools etc. I can’t see it being manageable if restricted to surgeries as it is presently for the flu jab. Maybe even drive by jabs in the testing centres now set up. Utilise them.

Regards,

Newdawn

[Harvist in reply to Newdawn]

The thought of getting the flu jab in the same place as the CORONAVIRUS test centre fills me with horror!

[Newdawn Administrator in reply to Harvist]

Oh I was thinking of re-purposing them rather than a dual role Harvist! 😉

I couldn’t fancy anywhere that said test or vaccine either! 😱

Newdawn

[Ghounds in reply to Newdawn]

Last year I had to get mine at the village pharmacy as my GP was only offering them to over 65s until late November!

[Annie1920 in reply to Harvist]

It's already being done in Somerset mass vaccine centres by Appt onlyand the que was 4 people all spaced and masked.. All very calm and speedy

[couchbeings in reply to Newdawn]

I usually, being a carer, get mine free from the local chemist. I was kind of hoping that I could get my husbands done there too, somehow

[Newdawn Administrator in reply to couchbeings]

I’m not too concerned about this because I suspect the Govt/NHS will be desperate to roll out the immunisation project as quickly as possible by every means. The economy is so dependent on it.

Regards,

Newdawn

[Annie1920 in reply to Newdawn]

In Cheddar (Somerset uk) the flu jab is being given at the mass Covid jab Centre by appointment

[annmcgowan]

Hi I agree with Newdawn reply, social distancing would not be possible if all vaccines done at GO surgeries.

Ann

[Hidden]

most people in usa now get flu shots at a pharmacy. Couldn't you get them at a local chemist most people pay zero at a usa pharmacy. all insurances are mandated to cover free.

[G1llHa1n in reply to Hidden]

Probably possible but again problems of queuing and making sure priority recipients get priority. Also NHS patients don't pay except through their taxes. In the past, rolling up at an accredited pharmacy also meant paying there and then. Not all pharmacies have people trained to give the injections.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yes, people can go to the pharmacist in the UK especially if they want to pay. Most free vaccinations happen at the medical centres on selected days in October.

We get an invite by text to book a time. We go at that time, stand in a queue, inoculated still standing and out.

In previous years the system has not been at fault but the supply of flu vaccine has. Medical centres pre order and sometimes this goes wrong.

At present the process is for most over 65years of age. If this age is lowered, problems. Mass vaccination!!!!!!!!!

So any COVID19 vaccination needs a better system from ordering to administering.

[Annie1920 in reply to Hidden]

In the UK the flu jab has always been available and offered to many under 65s to those who are susceptible and their family members.. We have been jabbed for free since son with heart hole was born more than 40 yrs ago now

[Annie1920 in reply to Hidden]

Most pharmacies do do flu jabs in UK too but personally. I would prefer the mass covid vaccine centres since pharmacies are places people go when they are sick and many in UK aren't wearing masks now sadly

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

We could always hope for what has happened with Australia's flu season!

See healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo... where I show what could hopefully happen if lessons learned with COVID-19 work to dramatically reduce the incidence of flu cases and hence deaths

Neil

[Hidden in reply to AussieNeil]

Isn't Australia now having a covid19 outbreak now?

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Our second most populous state (Victoria) is one week into a second (6 week) lockdown. That state began reporting a couple of hundred new cases a day about a week ago, and so far three new deaths, with over 400 new cases yesterday. Worryingly, the virus is returning to other states from that outbreak in Victoria. It had pretty well been eliminated elsewhere.

Total deaths from the pandemic in Australia stand at 116 (which for comparison would be equivalent to a US total of around 1,700). Sadly, it only takes a few inconsiderate people to put others in danger.

Neil

[mrsjsmith]

I must be lucky with my surgery. I get the text to book and I call my surgery to book an appointment and then sit in a very large waiting room for a few minutes before being called in to see one of the practice nurses.

Colette

[AdrianUK]

In previous years it has actually been possible to get your flu jab done at any pharmacy and they do it free if you are one of the priority groups. That includes by the way anyone living wirh an immune compromised individual so you can get your adult family done free too. Tho oddly not the kids who had to be done at the GP. At my request my kids have the injection by the way but rhe nasal spray since that is live. One of the bonuses for them of living with me is an extra jab.

To avoid the huge queues I’m sure GPs will have to spread out their flu jab sessions. They may even decide to do it in the car parks!

I rather wish they’d make flu jabs available free for everyone that wants one and make it a big drive this year to help protect the NHS and save lives (ours). Sadly some of us die each year because of flu or a secondary bacterial infection on top of it. So really important to be protecting ourselves and it’s very encouraging to hear thaf there are so many fewer flu cases this year not only in Australia but other countries due to covid measures. Perhaps we will continue at least some of these measures forever. Eg the idea that you shouldn’t go to work with cold or flu like symptoms! I can’t see someone coughing on the train not being thrown off at the next stop by angry passengers at the moment!!

[louise66]

Hi,

I'm hoping that the general up take for the flu vaccine will be high this year. Unfortunately, I'm unable to have the vaccine as I seem to be allergic to it. With my consultants consent I didn't have one last winter as I'm still suffering from flair ups of cellulitis from the vaccine from the year before.

I will have a vaccine - when it's available - for Covid although I am very concerned as I seem to be unable to get any antibody response to any

Vaccine I've had - neither pneumonia created any antibodies when they checked.

I have low IGG and CD4 counts and am very careful anyway about infection risk - which so far has kept me well.

I'm also hoping that in the future people will take up the Covid vaccine and help keep us all safe.

Take care,

Louise

[YelvertonDevon]

I had my flu jab in my Doctors car park this year (AdrianUK) - temperature taken, arm out of car window. Very easy. Car park spaces nearby were coloured red for Covid19 testing. My section green. OH had his a few weeks later at a pharmacy.

Keep safe. Be kind.

[JigFettler Volunteer]

Remember, given that approx 80% CLLers don't have an adequately responsive reaction to flu vaccination, vaccinating those around us, family, friends, neighbours, the Postman (🤨) is arguably as important as getting ourselves vaxxed up! Maybe more so.

It remains very important that we all still get flu vaccinated.

Our perfected well practiced and fluent Covid safe habits will protect us from flu too.

Be safe.

Jig

[JigFettler Volunteer in reply to JigFettler]

More recent evidence suggests 26% with CLL get a helpful protective response from flu jabs... Jig