Flu Jabs

Milford_Cubicle

Many workplaces offer a 'corporate' 'flu jab day, they employ a company to come in and give the 'flu jab to either those who need it but can't get to their GP or those who want it. It works out cheaper for the employer to pay for the employees to have the injection rather than pay for several being off sick.
If you work in a healthcare environment, then your employer will offer them to you as it prevents you catching 'flu and passing it on to the more vulnerable groups you may work with/care for.

Boots offer a 'flu jab between now and Xmas to anyone who wants it, but as others have said, your GP surgery will give it to you free if you're in an 'at risk' group. It seems to be a more common thing that you can just wander into Boots and be given a 'flu jab for £10 or £15. I did the jabs last autumn for Boots, they stated that the jabs hadn't been as popular as they had been in 2006 and before. There's a chance GPs are offering the jabs to more people plus it's the nurse who gives it so getting an appointment shouldn't be too much of an issue. It is a bit of a postcode/GP lottery though, some will give it and some won't even if the clinical indicators are the same. In these circumstances Boots or Superdrug may well be your best option.

LillyJ

top_drawer wrote: »

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

No, the flu jab had nothing to do with you not getting a cold!
Some people also think they have flu when they have a cold. If you have had flu ever you will know about it. I had it once when I was 15 and it was pretty awful. I have since developed asthma and now have the jab every year. (I also work for the NHS so we can get it through work too).

I agree with the advice about lemsip - In our house, we have hot lemon with a teaspoon of honey, 2 paracetamol and 400mg Ibuprofen. (both about 30p a packet.)

MrsE_2

DH & I had it last year. No flu (or colds).

Was £10 or £15 at Sainsbury. Was done at the weekend.

VfM4meplse

Milford_Cubicle wrote: »

Many workplaces offer a 'corporate' 'flu jab day, they employ a company to come in and give the 'flu jab to either those who need it but can't get to their GP or those who want it. It works out cheaper for the employer to pay for the employees to have the injection rather than pay for several being off sick.

Too right. Interestingly the uptake by some frontline NHS staff can be particularly low even though it is actively encouraged (for the sake of the vulnerable people they treat, not just to keep the staff thenselves well). Could this be because some services have an endemic sick culture and it would be difficult to justify 2 weeks off sick with th "'flu" for those who have been immunised?

Mrs_P_Pincher

I work with the general public and was disappointed to be advised that as the flu jab is full of antibiotics, I could not have one as I have allergies to all the main families of antibiotics. Then I thought - hang on a minute - flu is a virus, so why is the jab full of antibiotics? No-one has been able to answer that one for me.

Then the next question is, I suppose, Why would I want to fill my system with antibiotics that I don't need? That doesn't affect me, but I have been told that the reason I have developed allergies to antibiotics is because of indiscriminate prescribing, prescribing before test results are in etc etc.

I find a mixture of elderberry extract and armotherapy will see off most respiratory viruses in 48 hours and enable you to continue to function in the meantime. it's whatever works for you on that front.

Mrs P P

Savvy_Sue

First I've heard, and although I'm allergic to two fairly common antibiotics, I've never had any problems.

jeannieblue

Although 'pestered' by my GP's surgery for the last two years (am asthmatic) I avoid the flu jab now.

I seem to have a bad reaction to it and have had 'flu' symptoms after having the jabs and had to take days off of work due to it! And naturally, being off work went down really badly with the bosses...

The flu jab only offers you protection against 3 flu viruses - and knowing my luck, I'd get the one that I wasn't protected for! Lots and lots of different flu's out there, its a bit of a lottery I think. They produce a jab for the 'flu's' that they 'think' we might get............

VfM4meplse

Mrs_P_Pincher wrote: »

I work with the general public and was disappointed to be advised that as the flu jab is full of antibiotics, I could not have one as I have allergies to all the main families of antibiotics. Then I thought - hang on a minute - flu is a virus, so why is the jab full of antibiotics? No-one has been able to answer that one for me.



I find a mixture of elderberry extract and armotherapy will see off most respiratory viruses in 48 hours and enable you to continue to function in the meantime. it's whatever works for you on that front.

Firstly, the 'flu jab is not "full of antibiotics". You were advised wrong and I would be fascinated to learn of which reputable source of wisdom is doling out dangerously incorrect advice - obviously no-one accountable to any professional body. :eek: :eek: :eek:

Secondly, the assertion that elderberry extract and aromatherapy may help is not evidence based. There are all kinds of myths that exist around alternative treatments that cure colds /'flu, particularly echinacea, vit C etc but the only one with a micro-molecule of scientific evidence to support is in fact geranium, and the evidence to support this remedy is so limited I would stick to paracetamol.

The botom line is there is no cure for the common cold or flu, the disease just needs to take it's course. Even the licensed products have a very limited benefit!

VfM4meplse

jeannieblue wrote: »

Although 'pestered' by my GP's surgery for the last two years (am asthmatic) I avoid the flu jab now.

I seem to have a bad reaction to it and have had 'flu' symptoms after having the jabs and had to take days off of work due to it! And naturally, being off work went down really badly with the bosses...

The flu jab only offers you protection against 3 flu viruses - and knowing my luck, I'd get the one that I wasn't protected for! Lots and lots of different flu's out there, its a bit of a lottery I think. They produce a jab for the 'flu's' that they 'think' we might get............

Think of the 'flu jab as an insurance policy against 70% of the commonly-circulating strains. In people who have pre-exiting conditions, the flu can be nasty and may mean a residential stay courtesy of NHS hospitality which I cannot imagine anyone looking forward to.

As for the bad reactions, the 'flu-like symptoms you experienced directly after the jab are a mere co-incidence, the reality is that you would have been exposed to the virus 7-10 days beforehand and been incubating the bug since then.

jeannieblue

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Think of the 'flu jab as an insurance policy against 70% of the commonly-circulating strains. In people who have pre-exiting conditions, the flu can be nasty and may mean a residential stay courtesy of NHS hospitality which I cannot imagine anyone looking forward to.

As for the bad reactions, the 'flu-like symptoms you experienced directly after the jab are a mere co-incidence, the reality is that you would have been exposed to the virus 7-10 days beforehand and been incubating the bug since then.

I'm only saying what happened to me - and I cannot afford to have time off work, I do not get paid when I am sick.

Coincidence? I know quite a few people that have had the same coincidence after the flu jab.

What if you get a strain of flu that is not in the vaccine? I believe there are many strains, but there are only 3 in the vaccine, and they kinda guess which ones each year to put in the jab.....