Discussion
Anyone had the flu jab ? There seems to be a bit of a panic on at the moment with all the reports of the " deadly " Aussie flu and Boots have sold out of the jab. I was reading a report from public Health England the other day which stated the jab is totally ineffective for anyone over 65 as their immune systems are weaker and they can't build up resistance. ( I'm over 65 but wouldn't have the jab anyway after a bad reaction several years ago )
I don't know anyone who has had flu this year so is it all media hype or is there really an epidemic ?
I don't know anyone who has had flu this year so is it all media hype or is there really an epidemic ?
GP is best person to talk to.
Me, my wife and son have all had it this year. Its pretty nasty. I have no idea where you got the over 65 information from its simply wrong.
The inactivated influenza vaccine is specifically made for over 65s (and a few other groups). The alive attenuated version is not for over 65s but you wouldn't get it anyway.
Me, my wife and son have all had it this year. Its pretty nasty. I have no idea where you got the over 65 information from its simply wrong.
The inactivated influenza vaccine is specifically made for over 65s (and a few other groups). The alive attenuated version is not for over 65s but you wouldn't get it anyway.
Lynx516 said:
GP is best person to talk to.
Me, my wife and son have all had it this year. Its pretty nasty. I have no idea where you got the over 65 information from its simply wrong.
The inactivated influenza vaccine is specifically made for over 65s (and a few other groups). The alive attenuated version is not for over 65s but you wouldn't get it anyway.
A I said, the info was from a report from Public Health England and Dr. Mark Porter who writes for The Times has also written that the jab is ineffective for those over 65. I know that in Canada a stronger dose is given to that age group and there is talk of it being used here too.Me, my wife and son have all had it this year. Its pretty nasty. I have no idea where you got the over 65 information from its simply wrong.
The inactivated influenza vaccine is specifically made for over 65s (and a few other groups). The alive attenuated version is not for over 65s but you wouldn't get it anyway.
thatjagbloke said:
Anyone had the flu jab ? There seems to be a bit of a panic on at the moment with all the reports of the " deadly " Aussie flu and Boots have sold out of the jab. I was reading a report from public Health England the other day which stated the jab is totally ineffective for anyone over 65 as their immune systems are weaker and they can't build up resistance. ( I'm over 65 but wouldn't have the jab anyway after a bad reaction several years ago )
I don't know anyone who has had flu this year so is it all media hype or is there really an epidemic ?
The current winter's vaccine is said to be effective against at least three of the four strains of flu doing the rounds - depending on which is used: I don't know anyone who has had flu this year so is it all media hype or is there really an epidemic ?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/flu-jab-n...
What is interesting in that article is the statement,
"It is up to the local NHS to decide which vaccine to procure for the adult programme."
I shall be asking my local CCG which they've purchased for distribution to my GP and to my local hospital for its staff vaccination programme. BTW - I'm 68 and always have the flu jab and have never had a bad reaction, nor have I caught flu.
I paid for the flu jab at my local Tesco pharmacy for £9.99 last November.
I'm "only" 57 and relatively healthy so don't qualify for it for free, but it was so cheap and my previous experience of any sort of flu was not good, that I thought for a tenner I couldn't go wrong. So far, so good.
I'm "only" 57 and relatively healthy so don't qualify for it for free, but it was so cheap and my previous experience of any sort of flu was not good, that I thought for a tenner I couldn't go wrong. So far, so good.
I had it in October. Got a letter from the GP as I was deemed 'at risk' so entitled to it for free (I'd had several bouts of bronchitis and chest infections over the last few years). Daughter had it at school and the Mrs got one done at Tesco for £7. Touch wood, though we've all had colds over New Year they subsided pretty quickly and were pretty mild ones.
I got it free through my work who give it out to their employees, so far so good.
If you tolerate vaccines well then you may as well have it. It won't stop you getting flu 100%, just like a seat belt won't stop you getting injured/killed, but given there's essentially no (or little) cost involved it's a bit of a no brainer.
I know that anecdotal evidence is no evidence at all, but my mum came down with flu on boxing day, having refused the jab and she's only really recovered in the last few days. My dad had the jab and remained healthy throughout, despite being exposed heavily to the virus. We'll never know whether the flu jab saved an 81 year old from a potentially life threatening infection, but it certainly hasn't done any harm.
If you tolerate vaccines well then you may as well have it. It won't stop you getting flu 100%, just like a seat belt won't stop you getting injured/killed, but given there's essentially no (or little) cost involved it's a bit of a no brainer.
I know that anecdotal evidence is no evidence at all, but my mum came down with flu on boxing day, having refused the jab and she's only really recovered in the last few days. My dad had the jab and remained healthy throughout, despite being exposed heavily to the virus. We'll never know whether the flu jab saved an 81 year old from a potentially life threatening infection, but it certainly hasn't done any harm.
Had flu bad about ten years ago.
Since then buy it from Boots every year. Only £10 or something and even if not 100% effectual, way worth it to me. Who does not have a tenner available to just buy it if it makes you less likely to catch it?
Dont believe the papers though OP - there is a killer flu reported all the damn time.
Since then buy it from Boots every year. Only £10 or something and even if not 100% effectual, way worth it to me. Who does not have a tenner available to just buy it if it makes you less likely to catch it?
Dont believe the papers though OP - there is a killer flu reported all the damn time.
Edited by p1stonhead on Monday 15th January 10:48
N7GTX said:
Had the flu jab for the first time in November. Wife got the flu, was off work and still has it to some degree some 3 weeks later. I got it just over a week ago.
Some newspapers reported the Aussie strain had mutated slightly so the jab was not effective?
All flu virus strains undergo some genetic drift as they pass through the population, but H3N2 appears to undergo drift which has a greater impact on it's antigenicity. Some newspapers reported the Aussie strain had mutated slightly so the jab was not effective?
This propensity for genetic drift also means that when the virus is being prepared for the vaccine (grown in eggs) it also has a higher rate of mutation, meaning the inactivated virus you get vaccinated with might be different enough from the wild-type virus that you coverage is compromised.
Apparently if you have the jab over several seasons it is a bit more effective than a one-off.
I had a letter from the local practice offering it but I couldn't face the Saturday morning mass vaccinations they organise so booked and had one during my weekly shop at the local supermarket. Only minor problem is that the paperwork takes a bit longer as they don't have access to your records for medications, allergies etc.
I had a letter from the local practice offering it but I couldn't face the Saturday morning mass vaccinations they organise so booked and had one during my weekly shop at the local supermarket. Only minor problem is that the paperwork takes a bit longer as they don't have access to your records for medications, allergies etc.
I enquired whilst in my local chemist shop earlier this week and was told they didn't have any and it was unlikely anyone else would either because flu vaccinations are from September to December. He also stated it was likely ineffective against the one going around at the moment anyway.
jurbie said:
I enquired whilst in my local chemist shop earlier this week and was told they didn't have any and it was unlikely anyone else would either because flu vaccinations are from September to December. He also stated it was likely ineffective against the one going around at the moment anyway.
There's more than one variant. The most prominent variant is A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus which the current trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines are pretty effective against. The A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus is getting most of the press, as that is the one that is most poorly protected against by this years flu vaccine.You pays your money and takes your chance.
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