flu jabs?

[mummylonglegs]

Anyone had / having one?

I went to the GP for something different today and as I'm asthmatic he suggested I get a flu jab. I did it and now am wondering if it's at all like a child's innoculation, I mean will I have any side effects / mild flu etc.?

TIA

[mummylonglegs]

anyone?

[fairydust]

dd has it every year due to the fact that when she gets a bad cold / flu it tends to affect her legs badly (she has cerebal palsy)

[Medea]

Hi mummylonglegs. . .you and I are kinda similar constitutionally, I gather, and I get side effects to absolutely everything, but I've been OK with the flu jab for about the 8 years I've been having it. It might be a good idea for you to get it given your asthma and the arrhhythmia too.

[mummylonglegs]

Hi medea! I found you, I lost you, and here you are again . Yes, I always get bad side effects to things so I did start to wonder. To be honest if I'd thought about it beforehand I'd probably have said no, but he caught me on the spot with this one! Are there meant to be side effects do you know?

[Medea]

It's theoretically possible to feel a little run down for a day or so after the jab, but I've only heard one person ever say that, and he was a hypochondriac. I think this business of very mild flu is possible, but I've never heard of anyone actually getting even mild flu. You certainly won't get the proper flu as a side effect of the jab. But they do say not to take it if you actually have a temperature (which is similar to the advice given re. baby jabs). Every year that I take it, I go into the surgery anxious and paranoid that I'll get ill from the jab, but then I never feel anything. I guess what I'm saying, is that if I can do it, anyone can. I'm far more afraid of the flu, having gotten a very bad case about 9 years ago which had a domino effect on my health for the following year.

[PottytheVampireSlayer]

Dd (11) has one every year and has never had any side effects. I had one in my late teens through my work and had my first and only migraine. It could have been a coincidenec but I've not had the jab since.

[expatinscotland]

We had ours yesterday. DD has to go in for a booster 4 weeks from now. She's 2.3 and they could only give her half a dose.

No side effects at all whatsoever for her or us. WAY better than catching that God-awful flu.

[hhhhenleyonthames]

I am going to get all of us done this year. DD3 had flu in February and was really hammered by it. She took months to get back to normal. And that was just bog standard flu.

[Hulababy]

Can anyone request a flu jab? Or do you have to be in a certain risk group?

[hhhhenleyonthames]

I am in France, which is different. I think that in the UK you can request but it may only given to "at risk" groups; there is bound to be a protocol on htis. The practice nurse would know...

[expatinscotland]

I requested it at my GP, hula, b/c I am third trimester pregnant and anaemic. They refused my request. So we went private. Got a nice, mercury-free vaccine made in France as well .

The thought of having flu and/or being in labour, nursing a baby and looking after a newborn and toddler just does not appeal to me.

It was £45 for all of us - money well-spent, b/c I know when I had flu last I'd have gladly paid £100+ just to get rid of it.

[PottytheVampireSlayer]

You can request Hula but there always seems to be a bit of a shortage so you might have a fight on your hands. Dd should have had hers this week but hasn't had it yet as she's not well - I called in at the surgery to arrange another appointment and guess what - they've run out! They queue yesterday had to be seen to be believed - I didn't realise there were so many pensioners in my area . I think maybe the coverage of bird flu in the papers has made people more aware this year too.

[expatinscotland]

I think it has, too, Potty, but what's ironic is that there is no vaccine for bird flu. People keep going on and on in the press about a vaccine. We won't have one for another year.

[PottytheVampireSlayer]

Dd has seen quite a bit on the news about it and has been a bit concerned. This is the first year she's asked about her jab - I don't have the heart to tell her it won't help

[expatinscotland]

There's nothing we can do but support the world's scientists in their continuing research. Worrying and panicing can only hinder things.

For now, it's the poultry industry that will take a huge hit. The virus is highly lethal to poultry and other fowl. It is not transmissable between humans and may never adapt to become so, particularly b/c European farming methods differ from Central Asian ones in that many farmers in Europe do not live right next to their livestock. Countries are cooperating and asking for help if they suspect their bird populations may be affected - this is a good thing, b/c procedures can be put in place for handling potentially affected birds and quarantines carried out.

[Mosschops30]

Message withdrawn

[mummylonglegs]

Hula, I'm asthmatic, as is dp and dd, so we got a leaflet through the post inviting us to go for a jab. There wasn't a queue in our doctors, far from it. I saw the GP about something totally different and he kind of foisted it up on me!

[RTKMonherBROOMSTICK]

DS and I both have it

I have had pneumonia jab too {as I had pneumonia and plerisy few years back}

DS has it cos of his asthma

Usually just have acheing arm

But we are all getting over colds atm so will wait til next week to go for it