I've had my flu jab....

jennifernil

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I started having mine when I lived in Spain at about age 60 as I got them free (as my husband's dependent).

Here I have to pay as I am not yet 65 nor in a risky group.

My husband has always had to pay here, but this year has not had to, I told them he'd had pleurisy and pneumonia in the past and he got it free. I told them this last year too, but he still had to pay. Next year he will be 65, so he won't have to pay again.

My son gets it done through his work, so does his girlfriend.

How come you have to pay? Are you not entitled to free prescriptions as you are over 60?

Even if you are not in the group that get called in due to age or health, it is my understanding that you can request a prescription from your GP, take it to the chemist to be filled, then get the injection from the GP or nurse.

My daughter used to do this when she was a post grad at uni and tutoring students that seemed to have all manner of bugs they loved to pass around.

I asked at the surgery if DD could get the vaccination and they told me this was what to do. She then just paid for the prescription as normal, but as you are over 60, yours would be free.

Maybe it's different up here from with you.

OH and I both had ours today, we were both called in. Our surgery send a suggested time and day, but they are drop in sessions so you can go along on any of other the days if more suitable.

mazza111

7DW up here you would get it free as you're caring for your husband who's at risk. Carers and those with disabilities are the ones who get it free up here, and it doesn't need to be in an official capacity.

Well, I need to read things more carefully. I've just managed to register for a GPs practice in Kent :rotfl: But got there in the end :rotfl:

Dunroamin

Biggles wrote: »

In any event, whatever you had probably wasn't flu. Under normal circumstances no GP will actually diagnose flu, as that requires swabs and lab tests taking several days, by which time you will have recovered anyway.

The most they will do is say it was 'probably' flu/cold/whatever and prescribe medication to deal with the symptoms.

The only flu you recover from in days is "man flu"!

redneck

Had one years ago and had a bad reaction. Decided last winter to have another go. I was soooooooooo ill for 4 months, Never Again

theclonetrooper

I had mine on Tuesday at my local GP surgery & don't pay for it as I am diabetic.
The practice nurse said it was the same strain of Flu vaccine as "last years", I was in her treatment room for less than 30 seconds.
Walk in, sit down, left or right arm ?, lift arm of t-shirt up, Blah Blah "same strain as last year" Blah Blah, wipe with cotton wool, thank you very much, good day.
Also I notice that Tesco is offering the winter Flu jab for £9 this year, I could swear it was a fiver last year, (80% more than 2012 price, please feel free to correct my math. I only got a B in my maths GCSE, which is a surprise as I can't even count to .

seven-day-weekend

jennifernil wrote: »

How come you have to pay? Are you not entitled to free prescriptions as you are over 60?

Even if you are not in the group that get called in due to age or health, it is my understanding that you can request a prescription from your GP, take it to the chemist to be filled, then get the injection from the GP or nurse.

My daughter used to do this when she was a post grad at uni and tutoring students that seemed to have all manner of bugs they loved to pass around.

I asked at the surgery if DD could get the vaccination and they told me this was what to do. She then just paid for the prescription as normal, but as you are over 60, yours would be free.

Maybe it's different up here from with you.

OH and I both had ours today, we were both called in. Our surgery send a suggested time and day, but they are drop in sessions so you can go along on any of other the days if more suitable.

Over 65 here, for a free flu jab,unless in an at-risk group. I don't pay for normal prescriptions. No-one suggested your idea! I might try it next year, when I still won't quite be 65.

seven-day-weekend

mazza111 wrote: »

7DW up here you would get it free as you're caring for your husband who's at risk. Carers and those with disabilities are the ones who get it free up here, and it doesn't need to be in an official capacity.

Well, I need to read things more carefully. I've just managed to register for a GPs practice in Kent :rotfl: But got there in the end :rotfl:

He isn't really at risk, he had pleurisy and pneumonia over fifteen years ago. I do tell them this every year when I book the appointment (just in case!) and he has still had to pay but this year they decided he didn't, maybe it's because he's 65 in January.

pinkteapot

I'm not over 50 but I saw the thread title on the main page... I've never had a flu jab before and am healthy, but I'll be getting one this year. I had flu for the first time ever in January and it was absolutely horrendous. I had an awful up and down fever for well over a week, and it took several weeks to feel completely right again.

I'll be happily paying for my jab! I know the virus mutates and I could still catch it, but anything that reduces the chances is fine by me.

Anyone with a cold who claims they have flu gets short shrift from me now. Colds and flu are nothing alike.

castle96

Sainsburys do em for £9

Biggles

If you have a GP appointment for any other purpose, it's worth saying, "Can you give me a flu jab while I'm here?". My experience (before I became a 'target group') was that they'd rather do it and be done with it and not bother charging.

They're normally happy to have as many people immunised as possible: they get a fee from the NHS anyway for administering the flu jab, and it's been shown that people who are immunised create less demands on GP time during the winter with other URT (upper respiratory tract) infections, so it's a win-win.