Free winter flu jabs if you're eligible, & now only £8 if you're not

Ickle_Maisie

magicmat wrote: »

Do many non "At risk" people get this? Im 32, and healthy, but the flu can be a right pain, and loss of time/and medication can cost way more than £8! Should I go get one? !

My friend got the flu jag recently, developed the flu a few days later and ended up on steroids and antibiotics! I on the otherhand havn't had the flu jag, got the flu for the first time in years (possbily swine flu, didn't bother going to docs to find out), was laid up in bed for a few days and that was the end of it! Unless you're at risk I personally wouldn't bother, healthy people tend not to catch the flu that often, it's more than likely a bad cold (which the flu jag won't stop you getting)

lou79_2

Flu jabs now £5 in Lloyds Pharmacys in case anyone is still looking to get one!

katym79

Has there been any further talk of giving the flu vaccine to pregnant women this year? It was mentioned a while ago to me but seems to have gone quiet?

richie_gc

K8J wrote: »

Hi I've read your post with interest but is anything available in supermarkets / boots in Scotland?

Rammie67 wrote: »

A couple of the Boots branches in Edinburgh (Fort & Shandwick Place I think) are doing the seasonal flu jab for £12.99. Don't think any of the supermarkets are doing it.

Well, my local Morrisons (Ayr) is definitely doing it, but I think its the only supermarket locally with a pharmacy.

indiepanda

Ickle_Maisie wrote: »

My friend got the flu jag recently, developed the flu a few days later and ended up on steroids and antibiotics! I on the otherhand havn't had the flu jag, got the flu for the first time in years (possbily swine flu, didn't bother going to docs to find out), was laid up in bed for a few days and that was the end of it! Unless you're at risk I personally wouldn't bother, healthy people tend not to catch the flu that often, it's more than likely a bad cold (which the flu jag won't stop you getting)

I had the flu jab although am not in a priority group because my employer pays for it - not out of the kindness of their heart, if I am off sick they can't be billing my time out to clients.

Anyway, the pharmacist that did mine said that it takes a couple of weeks after the jab for the protection to be fully effective which could explain how your friend could catch flu so soon after having the jab.

Having said that, am not sure I would bother having it if work were not paying, I don't think I've ever had full blown flu (i.e. pre jab) and the jab can have side effects which leave you feel grotty the day after - last year I felt mildly fluey and this year my arm was sore for a few days.

j.e.j.

I am not 100% sure but my understanding is that the virus mutates a bit each year and while a flu jab can vaccinate against one strain it would not be a guarantee that you won't get the flu.

I am undecided about whether to go to the chemists to get a vaccine (I wouldnt push for one on the nhs). Obviously the thought of being laid up with flu for 10 days or so is a bit worrying, but the jabs themselves might have side effects, etc

ETA I also have a mild allergy to eggs (abdominal pains/cramps after eating boiled or fried eggs but can have eggs 'in' things..) and it mentions on the nhs site about the vaccination not being suitable for people with an egg allergy?

ammonite

I think as far as I've been told, the vaccine changes yearly depending on the major 'killer' flus that are prevalent in the world. I think you can still get the flu but one of the milder, less killing type versions.

As for the eggs, ask the nurse. It sounds to me like you are intolerant to eggs rather than allergic. Typically being allergic means you have anaphalactic shock whereas intolerant means it upsets your stomach/gives you headaches etc. Just check with the nurse before you have it or ring up the surgery and ask to speak to someone.

I've never had it before but I've had it this year and have a slightly tender arm but nothing terrible and no fluey symptoms. My friend who is a nurse said worst case scenario you get sniffles for a few days.

lostinrates

ammonite wrote: »

. My friend who is a nurse said worst case scenario you get sniffles for a few days.

my husband gets a sort of 'mini flu' reaction after his annual work paid for jab. Hot, shakey, often an upset stomach, sometimes a bit sick. He eats eggs with no difficulty. As far as he (and his employers) are concerned its better to risk two days of less productive work from home than more than a week off work doing very little or even nothing.

I am in a risk group, but don't work, use public transport or have kids at school....my risk of exposure is low, and so I choose not to have the flu jab. Sometimes I get flu (two winters ago for example) but a reaction like my husband's could wipe me out for a few days or a couple of weeks, not a couple of days, so IMO risk management suggests that for me it's not worthwhile.

Both my parents have flu jabs and have no reaction at all. So it depends on the person and the risk I think.

loulou123

I should have flu jab as asthmatic and work in a care home, but cannot have it due to being allergic to eggs!

I think a couple of vaccines are grown using egg whites (this is how my mum found out I was allergic to eggs when I had a severe reaction to one of my baby injections.)

I can eat egg in things though - such as cakes etc with no side effects.

jen007

I'm thinking of getting this, but have no idea if I can get it via my GP or not. I have suspected rheumatoid arthritis but no RH factor in my blood, but a family history of rheumatoid arthritis suggests it will come.

In 2009 I ended up in hospital with swine flu and pneumonia, I was in for 2 weeks. (Solitary, however my temperature was that high I have no recollection of the first week or so) and signed off for 2 weeks (so 4 weeks off College) The cold seems to affect my chest a lot more these days too. It was a fighting for my life stage in the first few days, rather scary so i'm told by my Dad.

I'm quite prone to picking most things up, I think i've had around 5 plus the above proper flu's in my lifetime, which I think is a lot. (I'm 24).

Where in Glasgow could I get it?