Flu Jab Time,

jazzy

I am due for my annual flu jab which is usually carried out at my NHS surgery. Would there be any benefit to have my flu jab at my local chemist or supermarket with regards to more protection from different flu strains?

Wizard_of_Id

It's the same stuff.

System

jazzy wrote: »

I am due for my annual flu jab which is usually carried out at my NHS surgery. Would there be any benefit to have my flu jab at my local chemist or supermarket with regards to more protection from different flu strains?

My understanding is that the NHS stipulates which vaccine can be given to the various age groups irrespective of where you get the actual jab. For example, this year the over 65s will get an adjuvanted trivalent injected vaccine as it has been shown to be more effective in this age group. Those in the bracket 18 to 65 will get a quadrivalent injected vaccine.

I doubt that any pharmacy or supermarket will knowingly be prepared to give you the wrong vaccine as they are registered with, and monitored by the Care Quality Commission.

This link may be of interest:

https://psnc.org.uk/services-commissioning/advanced-services/flu-vaccination-service/flu-vaccination-faqs/

lisyloo

Same stuff.
Advantage of going to local pharmacy are convenience and possibly earlier cover if you have to wait for the surgery.

pmduk

I had mine this morning at a local pharmacy, it was far more convenient than the conveyor-belt cattle-market at my GP surgery.

luvchocolate

My doctors did them 3 weeks ago

Red-Squirrel_2

The vaccine is exactly the same, but getting it done by a trained pharmacist will be quicker and easier. I had mine done last week, I went in to collect my inhalers and the pharmacist asked if I wanted my flu jab too while I was there. He did a good job of it too!

Murphybear

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

The vaccine is exactly the same, but getting it done by a trained pharmacist will be quicker and easier. I had mine done last week, I went in to collect my inhalers and the pharmacist asked if I wanted my flu jab too while I was there. He did a good job of it too!

Sorry to disagree. I think a trained nurse at a GP practice will have more experience of giving injections than a pharmacist.

The surgery I used to go to booked you in for appointments every 2 minutes so you were in an out in a flash.

no1catman

Murphybear wrote: »

Sorry to disagree. I think a trained nurse at a GP practice will have more experience of giving injections than a pharmacist.

The surgery I used to go to booked you in for appointments every 2 minutes so you were in an out in a flash.

I agree - rang up to book mine for late October - they're doing them in minute intervals!

lisyloo

I think it all depends on the surgery/pharmacy TBH.


I had to chase the surgery for my housebound FIL as they were very late last year and he was 89 with COPD i.e. vulnerable.
I don't know whether it was because the district nurses were particularly busy or because were at the end of the alphabet.


A decent pharamcy like Boots should be checking for allergies and contraindications so if a pharmacy is doing them in a few minutes then that's worrying, but from just having had mine I don't see why it should take more than 10 minutes.

Lorian

lisyloo wrote: »

A decent pharamcy like Boots should be checking for allergies and contraindications so if a pharmacy is doing them in a few minutes then that's worrying, but from just having had mine I don't see why it should take more than 10 minutes.

I believe they all use the same form, same allergy questions.

I had mine just before lunch in Tesco. Pharmacist was very professional, it does take them 4 years to do their MPharm and a pre-reg year, so I think we are in safe hands with them giving a simple jab.