Flu Jabs

tilamok

Hello there

I saw an ad in Croydon where Flu jabs were being done for £9.95. However the earliest the jab can be done is in mid-November. Does anybody know where the jab can be done sooner but not necessarily cheaper? Can the jab be done on week ends also?

Please don't advise GPs. They'll give you an appointment next summer.
Also 2 years ago, I had a very unpleasant first experience with kidney stones. So I went to see my GP who told me quite bluntly that there are other patients who have worse conditions than me and that I shouldn't waste his time.:mad:

Thanks
PS Personally it costs me a lot more than £10 when I need to recover from a cold and I got 3 colds last winter:mad: though I've stopped smoking for around 3 years. Also the £9.95 flu jab is Superdrug

bringmeshoes

the flu jab will not help with a cold. Where i live the flu jab is only offered to those who are considrered vulnerable, such as the elderly, asthmatics, diabetics and carers as the flu can be really bad for people in these groups esp elderly and asthmatics and can lead to hospitalisation or even worse if they get the flu. i usually get mine done on a saturday ('m asthmatic) but it all depends on the surgery whether they offer it at the weekend
if you are in one of the vulnerabl;e groups then you dr should offer it free if not then do you really need to have it?

myfairrlady

I think Boots offers them sooner.

tilamok

Thank you Bringmeshoes and Myfairlady:beer:

I didn't know that flu jabs don't help with colds. I thought that colds were similar to flus except that flus are much worse. I am 34 and non-asthmatic.

Penny_Watcher

Can you get a flu jab through your work? Some employers provide flu jabs as it's cheaper and less disruptive than having staff absent because of flu.

tilamok

My department does not even go for the company-paid xmas dinners because it claims that it will show that it's reducing costs.

There are only donkeys working in my department.:money:

VfM4meplse

bringmeshoes wrote: »

the flu jab will not help with a cold. Where i live the flu jab is only offered to those who are considrered vulnerable, such as the elderly, asthmatics, diabetics and carers as the flu can be really bad for people in these groups esp elderly and asthmatics and can lead to hospitalisation or even worse

The annual flu campaign is dictated by national policy, provision on the NHS extends to patients over 65, those with chronic medical conditions and their carers, occupational schemes may apply to key groups of workers including healthcare professionals. You had a nasty health experience but this was acute and is very different from renal failure, a condition which would mean you qualify for a jab. Equally, if your GP was concerned from your medical history an exception may have been made but clearly wasn't. Check out the DH website (Chief Medical Officer's pages) for the lowdown.

As bringmeshoes alluded to, there is a huge cviral and clinical difference btwn a cold, dreadful as it makes you feel at the time, and the flu which for the elderly and medically vulnerable can be fatal. IMHO (not so humble as it happens I am very involved in this area of work) Asda, Superdrug, BTC, Tesco and the like are just cashing in on the fears of worried well.

Word of warning: when pandemic flu hits our shores, if you are offered a jab (unlikley to be available until nearly 6 months into the pandemic) then whatever you do take it. This is because the H5N1 strain is likely to cause lots of fatalities (the poplulation has had little exposure to this strain to date) and in receving the jab you will be instrumental in reducing the amount of 'flu in circulation, ie help all the vulnerable groups I have listed above.

For now, be a MSE, stop worrying and save your cash.

tilamok

Thank you VfM4meplse

I agree that perhaps the flu jabs is not for me.

Many thanks to all the posters & replies for helping me out

blue_haddock

I'm having my flu jab through the doctors this coming tuesday.

I am however diabetic.

top_drawer_2

hi,

I had the flu jab last year at Boots - it was £14.95. I am not in the "vulnerable" group but I was determined to avoid the flu last year....

The reason why they cant offer the flu jab until so late is because they have to develop the vaccine each year as the strain changes each time....

I didnt get any colds either last year although I dont know if the flu jab has anything to do with that or not ...

RE: the cost of being ill.

I was talking to the Nurse at the Dr's the other day and she was saying that Lemsip, Beechams etc have No Proven Effects whatsoever on a colds etc - theyre mainly just comforting and contain paracetamol and caffine - she suggested x2 paracetamol and coffee would have the same effect. Also that Lemon (juice) and honey may be help too if you like it...

Jen

Paparika

I'm eliggible for the jab, because of my immune disease, the dr suggested it, my consultant suggested it, so booked in to the treatment room and they refused, i had to go back to the gp who then had to verbally tell them that although i didn't fit into the criteria, i still needed it. got it eventually, glad i did, and i'll be up for it again this year.