Flu Jab

[Hollydebs]

Hi all

It’s coming to that time of year when you decide to have a flu jab.

Our local medical centre is only offering last years strain. There is a new strain but is only being offered to people born

Before 1954.

I’m now pondering this as I can’t see what the point of having the exact same flu jab I had injected last year again this year.

Surely once you’re protected with that strain of the virus you’re protected.

I don’t understand the reasoning.

This is the first year they have done this and I’m now debating it with myself whether there’s a point.

Any thoughts or inputs would be gratefully appreciated xx

[PMRpro]

Why not ask if you can have the one for over 65s? Usually they are for the elderly AND patients with chronic health conditions - which you would qualify for. I would see one of the doctors and put that point to them - the main reason for the protection of the more vulnerable.

I'm not sure how long the immunity due to the vaccine lasts - sometimes it fades away, many vaccines must be given every 5 years and some are much more often. I just looked it up and typically the flu shot lasts through one flu season and a bit more in some people. It all depends on how strongly your immune system responded in the first place and that is also linked to what medications you are on. Immunosuppressants will mean you don't respond as strongly.

However - after a year, there won't be much protection left so it needs a prod, even if it is the same vaccine as last year. I assume it means there was little sign of the flu viruses having mutated since last year when the vaccine was chosen. It takes months to make them so it is difficult to be totally up to date.

So - whether you can have the new version or not - get the jab.

[AgedCrone in reply to PMRpro]

Well the vaccine used last year was apparently the wrong one for winter 2017/18...so maybe it's the right one for this year? I'm living proof of that as I had the vaccine and I had the flu. But as it is given annually the flu vaccine must only have a 12 month life.

This year the Chinese are refusing to give us the ingredients of the vaccine the West have asked for ......nobody knows why ......but I don't think Mr Trump's imposition of Trade Tarriffs on China has helped!

Worst case scenario is to buy this year's up to date flu vaccine ftom your local pharmacy....but as no one seems to know what strain is expected to hit Europe...it all seems a big gamble whatever you do!

[PMRpro in reply to AgedCrone]

According to the media it was forecast to be 10% effective as a worst case scenario. Since in retrospect the effectiveness was assessed at 40% I'm not sure it can be said it was "the wrong vaccine" - 40% success seems not too bad to me

cdc.gov/flu/about/season/fl...

They are rarely significantly better than that because the viral mutations that reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine cannot be forecast.

Once they are able to use a different technology things will improve - but for the moment it is better than nothing.

[Hollydebs]

I did to be honest. They said it’s only for that age group and Chronic illness was not a criteria for the new strain and I would only be offered last years strain regardless. All seems a bit odd unless there isn’t enough to go round and they are limiting it.

[PMRpro in reply to Hollydebs]

Who did you ask? A receptionist? I don't believe them - they are there to guard their employers and save money.

[Hollydebs in reply to PMRpro]

Actually it was a receptionist. Perhaps need speak to GP.

[PMRpro in reply to Hollydebs]

I would - I thought that might be the case. If they are stuffy - ask when they got their medical qualifications...

[Hollydebs in reply to PMRpro]

Good one 😀 thank you

[Sara_A]

There are 2 vaccines this yr for adults, the trivalent and quad, the quad with 4 components/strains will be for those immunosuppressed so if u are then that’s what u should get.

The flu vaccination programme is the same nationally so I’m not sure what they mean by the same as last yr?? Who told u this info? U need to have the vaccine annually regardless of the strains and generally different strains are predicted each yr.

hope that has kind of helped and if it wasn’t a med professional then they prob just meant it’s the flu vaccine same as every yr not knowing the strains etc!

[Hollydebs in reply to Sara_A]

Thanks Sara. They had batches left over of last years flu jab so majority are supposedly getting this. Just find it all bit odd.

[PMRpro in reply to Hollydebs]

I think that is highly unlikely - most medications have a use-by date for a good reason. And if the practice itself had them - they are unlikely to have been kept under suitable conditions. If they are doing that - questions need to be asked and info provided.

[Sara_A]

That can’t be right??!!! They go out of date and what doesn’t has to be sent back to regional supplies??!!!

I’d really check this as I’m a nurse at a gp surgery and give flu jabs and I know the dates of vaccines run out pretty much end of flu season or jan!!

This all seems bit odd I’ve never heard of this before as new vaccines come out annually.

[Sara_A]

I am currently off sick from work with a flare but my colleague visited me today and we discussed flu jabs and she did say there is a current shortage of the over 65 vaccines and that some places may have supply issues this yr?? However that shouldn’t affect the majority of us