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Refused annual flu jab.

dartsstar profile image
11 Replies

Hello I'm new to this sight and needed to say I am very disappointed with my GP right now. A year ago I saw a rheumatologist who said I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, and to cut a long story short he sent me a letter to confirm this and also put in the letter that it is recommended that I have an annual flu jab and a one-off pneumonia jab. A copy of this letter was sent to my GP and I was invited to have these jabs. This year they made me an appointment for a flu jab and I travelled there, dragging my arthritic leg behind me only to be told I wasn't entitled to the flu jab and that I wasn't entitled to it last year either and they don't know who authorised the jabs last year. Why couldn't they just phone me and tell me instead of asking me to come to the surgery? I'm so annoyed about all this.

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dartsstar profile image
dartsstar
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11 Replies
Trikki profile image
Trikki

It begs understanding....x

Miss13 profile image
Miss13

Hi dartsstar this happened to my son he had the Jab once and the following year he had a letter again and when we went to the doctors we were told he shouldn't be having it!! I was furious,I really don't think they know what they are doing,it really annoys me.Needless to say they don't send him letters anymore😐 Would you be able to have it done at the local pharmacy as some do it x

phlebo123 profile image
phlebo123

Do you still have a copy of the original letter from the rheumatologist that stated you should have the an annual flu jab? If you do then you should make an appointment with your doctor or practice manager and discuss the letter with them.

If you no longer have the letter can you phone or make contact with the rheumatologist to ask for another copy of the letter to be sent to you and your doctor.

As it was your surgery that invited you to attend for the jab, then refused, I would suggest you make a complaint to the practice manager. I would demand that they give you a satisfactory explanation.

Please let us know how you get on... good luck

rosewine profile image
rosewine

According to NHS Choices it is adviseable for people who are:-

aged 65 and over

pregnant women

children and adults with an underlying health condition (particularly long-term heart or respiratory disease)

children and adults with weakened immune systems

You could argue that your arthritis and fibromyalgia is an underlying health condition. Are you a carer for anyone as my last GP used to insist on my husband having one although he wasn't old enough as he was classed as a carer for me.

I know Boots charge £13 for one and I know LLoyds do them as well but not sure of their price

As phlebo123 says surely a copy of the specialists letter would be enough as they must have decided that your immune system needs the extra help. grhh makes me mad.x

fenbadger profile image
fenbadger

Beggars belief doesn't it. This is a true story:

A man was passing his surgery so he popped in and said, can I get my blood test results?

Snotty reception said we don't give them over the counter you'll need to phone,. so he got out his mobile and from across the desk, she read them out and didn't bat an eyelid.

margaretpaloma profile image
margaretpaloma in reply to fenbadger

Reminds me of a friend who was having problems sorting out moving his taxes from the UK to Spain. So while he was visiting the UK he went to an HMRC office, to be told they did not see people in person and directed to a phone hanging on the wall behind him.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor

Hi dartsstar

I am so genuinely sorry to read this my friend but it does not surprise me in the slightest! Last year I ran a poll on the forum of who had been allowed flu jabs and those that had not. It was very different depending where you lived and what your other conditions were with Fibro. I have pasted you a link below:

healthunlocked.com/fibromya...

I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck, and please take care of yourself.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

Leonwp profile image
Leonwp

IF that is the case then last year your gp administered by injection an un necessary drug into your body. Thats a no no.

Lima6MCT profile image
Lima6MCT

I was in seeing my GP yesterday about something completely different and she said "Would you like a 'flu' jab this year?" When I said yes she got up & went to collect some vaccine and I got my jab there & then. Have to say I think I may have had a bit of a reaction to it during the night when I woke up feeling really cold and couldn't stop shaking - went to fill a hot water bottle and had problems keeping my hands steady to fill it! Luckily it only lasted about half an hour.

Glosgran profile image
Glosgran

My GP surgery also says that FMS is not one of the conditions on the list so not entitled to it. In the past, I have paid to have a flu jab at supermarket pharmacies e.g. Sainsbury's & Asda as when I've actually had the flu I have been very ill and it's knocked me back for a long time. Asda Pharmacy was cheapest and only cost £7, so even cheaper than a normal prescription. However, some people advise that anyone with FMS should not have the jab as it's introducing toxins into the body. I didn't have it last year and I was OK but I think it was a mild winter and flu wasn't particularly prevalent.

margaretpaloma profile image
margaretpaloma

I have a question to ask. I live in Spain. We are entitled to flu jabs but are avoiding our busy surgery. Last year we bought it at a pharmacy as our surgery had no appointments. The pharmacist said he was not supposed to administer it but did as a convenience for his clients. But our local pharmacist does not do this.

Here's my question. Both my husband and I have had to have warfarin shots, daily over a period of weeks, me after surgery and him after a broken bone. The chemist gives you a box of pre-loaded needles, and you do it yourself.

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between that and a flu vaccine? Why can I do that every day but can't stick a flu vaccine needle in my arm?

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