flu jab

[kitchenmares]

my partner is 61 should he have the flu jab? he smokes a little, has been offered the jab and worries about any after effects. does it really work?

[nicola_red]

Well, my mother got really knocked out by flu a few years back and the following winter decided to pay to get the jab, but the doctor told her that they can only vaccinate against last year's strains and that new strains appear every year.  She still got the jab and didn't get flu, but it sounded to me like that was more by good luck than good management.

[bracknell]

if your partner suffers from an illness such as highbp, asthma, bronchitis, any chest illnesses and may or may not have a long term illness then he would be automatically called by the GP to have the flu vaccination.  It does work, but there is always the odd one or two that react to it.  Check with the practice nurse and she will be able to advise you further.

[DannyK]

You have nothing to lose by having the jab. Dr Hilary said on tv the other day that you do not get flu-like symptoms when you have the jab, and that that is waht people say about ALL jabs!

I have it done as I'm asthmatic and I've never had any side effects after having ot - or the flu of any kind.

[joko]

you will probably experience a sensation like you are just about to get the flu, just after having the jab which lasts a few hours, but then it passes. your arm may feel slightly weaker for a few hours too, but other than that there are no after affects

[big george]

I am now 66 and have had the flu jab every year since I was 60. I can honestly say that I have never had the flu or even a severe cold since the jabs started. The year previous to having the flu jabs, however, I spent 5 days in bed with flu and bronchitis so bad that I thought I might snuff it. For me, it works and I would say go for it!

[scubadiver]

Nicola Red- you are correct in thinking that the vaccine changes every year, but not about the strains.

The WHO is constantly monitoring circulating flu strains in both the Northern & Southern Hemispheres. Because there is a 6 month difference in the seasons between the two, the strains vaccinated against in the Northern Hemisphere at the moment were the ones causing problems in the Southern Hemisphere in their winter, & vice-versa.

Due to the method of producing the vaccines, the vaccine cannot cause flu. However, as it takes around three weeks to develop immunity following vaccination, any flu virus  encountered during this time which causes flu, is often wrongly labelled as being due to the vaccine.

You may feel vaguely unwell for a couple of days following vaccination, but this is normal.

[Hermia]

The only side-effect I get is a sore arm. I've had the jab for the last few years as I'm asthmatic and I've never had the flu.

[derekpara]

I'm 72 and have had the flu jab for years. Like Hermia

[derekpara]

As I was saying !! The only side effect I have is a slightly sore arm. Let me add that if you have ever really had Influenza, and most people only have the real thing a couple of times in their life, you would never go without the jab again.