Flu - Jab or not to Jab?

[Gromit]

A new study fuels growing doubts over the effectiveness of the �115 million annual vaccination campaign, following research published last month suggesting there was little evidence it was effective in elderly patients or that it saves lives.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) researchers found that having the flu jab did not cut the chances of those aged 65 to 89 attending hospital for respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia and chest infections.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2007/10/24/nflu124.xml

Your comments please.

[cruella]

Hi Gromit,
I have to say I have never had the flu vaccine.
I am offered it every year from my employers and also my GP but have always refused it.
I watched a programme the other evening on this debate and the results showed that the Scientists who actually research the flue jab for any given year actually only guess what type of flu is likely to be the worst for that given year.
Most people I know who accept the vaccine every year have side effects and are quite often unwell for a couple of days, or longer.
The vaccine is very expensive too.
I think it is a matter of choice for each individual but I have only ever had the flu once in 18 years, without having the vaccine.
Just my personal opinion, others swear by it.

[China Doll]

I'm offered every year cause I'm astmatic and I turn it down every year.

I've never had the flu so I fail to see how injecting the virus in to my body is a particularly good idea. My body seems to be doing ok.

[daffy654]

I'm not having my flu jab this year despite the fact I have emphysema and asthma. I am the same healthwise whether I have the jab or not so why waste NHS money.

[Ethel]

I am asthmatic and prone to bronchitis. The flu leaves me with chest infections and bronchitis that makes me ill for up to three or four months.

Since I've been having the flu jabs I have not had flu, so I am spared the chest infections and bronchitis that have plagued me for many years.

The flu jab does not give me any side effects at all.

Of course I still have asthma attacks, but these are managable as long as I am otherwise healthy in the upper respiratory tract.

[jno]

I used to get horrible colds, 2 or 3 a year, that made me unfit to work for a couple of days with a streaming nose and with a hacking cough for weeks afterwards. A friend suggested I try the flu jabs because she said they took care of colds too. I have had them for 3 years now and not had a cold since. No side effects either. So they've improved my life considerably, even if they're preventing the wrong illness. Sorry to hear they aren't precenting the right illness, but I sure hope they don't end the programme.

Though they only guess at what strain of flu is going to hit each year, I believe we usually get the same one for two or three years running till another one comes along, so I'd have thought they'd be effective most years.

[Reverandfunk]

Unless your old/asmatic i think anyone who has a flu jab is a poof.....

[smudge]

I've only ever had one flu jab, but won't be having any more as I felt quite rough for a week after it. Having said that, I might have been going down with a cold at the time, so not sure if it was the after effects of the jab...

My husband has flu jabs every year as he's prone to getting bronchitis & has had bronchial pneumonia twice. He's never had any side effects from the flu jab.

He's also had the one off pneumonia jab to prevent getting that again!

[smudge]

Very helpful answer Rev!

[Reverandfunk]

Smudge its a well known fact lol

Get a grip, be a man stop playing with dolls houses and leave flu jabs for the elderly and those with respiratory problems

[smudge]

I'd find it impossible to be a man Rev - not that I'd want to be one! ;o}

[Reverandfunk]

Metaphorically speaking if you were a bloke lol

[amsterdammer]

GROMIT By highlighting the �115 million cost, are you suggesting this is a waste of government resources? Or possibly being ageist?

[Goodsoulette]

I have been called for it. I have always said no but this year I have nearly died with my asthma twice and thats just been due to pollen so I don't think I stand much chance of staying out of hospital if I get flu. Im still undecided though as I hear you can get a bit poorly with te jab anyways.

[Gromit]

amsterdammer


No, I am demonstrating that I have mastered ABs text formating option.

I am never ageist. Some of my best friends befuddled and dribble and smell of wee.

[LoftyLottie]

I have had it for the last three years because of a lung problem and have had no ill effects whatsoever. Like jno, I have also suffered less with colds than before I had the jab.

[amsterdammer]

Gromit. Perhaps you should choose your friends more carefully, or are you like this yourself?

[China Doll]

Like minds and habits often attract Gromit.

[naomi24]

I'm never too sure about the results of such studies. Could this be yet another sneaky ploy to save money? All the elderly people I know have their flu jabs and seem to find them beneficial.

[brionon]

Let's get this right -Getting a 'Flu Jab doesn't protect you against diseases other than 'Flu. Well I never----

[Gromit]

China Doll

You're my best mate...