Will I know recive a flu jab?: Im 34 and have just been... - NRAS

NRAS

36,358 members45,025 posts

Will I know recive a flu jab?

bexlt17 profile image
11 Replies

Im 34 and have just been told I have RA and I was just thinking would i know get a flu jab on the NHS? thank you all hope you are all well and having a pain free day like me

Written by
bexlt17 profile image
bexlt17
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
11 Replies

Hi, my GP surgery runs flu jab clinics but didn't get in touch with me to tell me to attend. I phoned and requested one explaining to the receptionist that I have ra. You should also be able to just call your surgery and book into the next clinic.

When you receive your first flu jab you should also request that you are given the pneumonia one at the same time, it will be given to you in the opposite arm.

in reply to

I hadn't thought of that Georje, thanks for the tip

in reply to

I forgot to say that you only receive this once unlike the flu jab!

abannister profile image
abannister in reply to

i was told last month when i got my pneuma vax i had to get it every 5 years

sciqueen profile image
sciqueen

Hi

You should do, but you may have to ring up and say you should get initially, so that you are added to their records that what I did last yr when I was first diagnosed. Gp says I will automatically get a letter for this yr.

Sci x

Tillytop profile image
Tillytop

As the others say you may well have to "chase" to make sure you get one if you are entitled. A couple of times I have missed out because I wasn't on the GP's list and the surgery had run out of vaccine. On those occassions I ended up having to pay.

I think I am right in saying that RA itself won't mean you qualify for an NHS vaccination, but if you take immunosuppressant meds you will qualify. Sometimes there can be confusion about your entitlement if your immunosuppressant meds are prescribed by the hospital rather than the GP - because unless your GP's records show that your are immunosuppressed, you may find you are missed off their list. What I do these days is to try to book one of my routine blood tests for around the time the flu clinics start and just ask the nurse on the day to do the vaccination while I am there. That works quite well for me and saves me having to go back for the vaccine.

Tillyx

allanah profile image
allanah

Not sure where you work, but some workplaces also give free flu jabs , hope u get sorted Axx

abannister profile image
abannister

i got my letter from gp today to attend the flu jab open clinic in october

You probably only qualify if you are on RA meds and I believe you are still waiting to start these? I had mine in December just before starting MTX so don't be surprised if they say RA on its own doesn't mean you are on their priority list.

earthwitch profile image
earthwitch

Before you get on the list the first time, you might need to remind your GP surgery that you have diagnosed RA if you are under the normal age for getting the flu jab.

Sometimes you don't need to actually book in for it either - you can just turn up at one of the clinics that the surgery will run for doing the jabs, and you tell them then that you have RA.

Tilda is right in that you may not be on the priority list without being on DMARDs, though I know our surgery is fairly flexible with that because the flu jab really isn't that expensive and they would rather more people had it than less.

Easiest thing though is to phone your GP practice and just ask what happens and how to get on the list.

You may also like...

UPDATE ON SHOULD I HAVE THE FLU JAB

oh so you can go out and about then! I said that I'd been out to get the flu jab and was getting...

Flu Jab & Infection update!!!

the infection, so I am hoping not to get reinfected. Hope you are all well Look after...

Timing of flu jab with methotrexate

Monday and just realised that my flu jab is due the same day. I'll check with the nurse but just...

Flu jab should I go?

about the flu jab incase I get a dose of that too 🙄, looking for advice on what others would do, I...

Flu jab and flare ups

Hya. I had my flu jab on Tuesday, and now I have a \\"Lovely Flare\\". Do you think that's what's...