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Boots the chemist doing free flu jabs

(39 Posts)
12Michael Sat 03-Oct-15 08:54:32

I went and picked up a prescription last Thursday ,and was offered a free flu jab in Boots , all they form filling wanted was NHS number and DoB.
Its a free walk in service saves booking up at a surgery.
Mick

Grandma2213 Sat 03-Oct-15 22:51:29

My surgery usually rings me and arranges an appointment at a time convenient for me. Mine is on Monday. A nurse administers it and it only takes a few minutes altogether. Am I just lucky with my GP?

harrigran Sat 03-Oct-15 22:59:09

DH and I had ours on 21st September. Practice nurse did them and we were in and out in 2 minutes. DH also had his shingles injection the week before, he decided it might be sensible to not have the two together.

mrsmopp Sun 04-Oct-15 09:48:33

My GP is offering a shingles jab at the same time as the flu jab.
Would that be a good idea? I've never had shingles thank heavens.

annsixty Sun 04-Oct-15 10:10:16

My DH had them at the same time last year, one in each arm. No problems, tiny itchy blisters on the site of the shingles but we had been told this could happen.

durhamjen Sun 04-Oct-15 12:31:37

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/pharmacists-could-be-paid-more-for-flu-jabs-than-gp-practices-gpc-warns-/20010582.article

granjura Sun 04-Oct-15 13:30:57

please, give me the address, I'd love a free jag, LOL.

loopylou Sun 04-Oct-15 13:38:21

The free jabs at Boots are useful, but you still have to meet the same criteria as those for one at your surgery:
^Are aged 65 and over (or will turn 65 by 31 March 2016)
Are pregnant
Have a certain medical condition such as diabetes or heart disease
Care for someone whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill^ according to the Boots website.
So for me, having caught flu and ended up with pneumonia twice in the past two years, my GP refuses and I'm not eligible elsewhere [cross]
I know I could pay but....

granoftwins Wed 07-Oct-15 19:34:55

I went to enquire about a flu jab at my local Boots. The assistant told me you had to be over 60 ( which I am) but when I went for the jab I was told you have have to be over 65 and so I had to pay. I was a bit annoyed, but having the most awful flu last Winter and being out of action from Christmas Day until March I decided to go ahead.

overthehill Thu 08-Oct-15 00:00:58

whitewave

Ours is due on 31st October -nothing available until then, but we are sticking with it as DH is to have shingles jab as well
-----------------------------------------------
Word of warning. My DH had the flu and shingles jab together last year. Within a short while he developed about 80 raised spots all over his body. The doc dismissed this as anything to do with the jab or because he had the two together. Months went by and they didn't go. Lots of different cream was prescribed did nothing. After lots of trolling the web I decided to try probiotics and this eventually cleared them up.Even now still light marks remain on his legs nearly a year later.

Grandma2213 Thu 08-Oct-15 00:25:45

Had my flu jab on Monday administered by Practise Nurse at GP surgery. I made a mistake with the appointment time and arrived 30 minutes late but no problem. I waited about 5 minutes and had the jab. I asked about shingles jab as I have had shingles several times, (a really bad attack in May this year). Although I am not yet 70 the nurse gave me one at her discretion due to my history.
overthehill - no problems with either jab except some slight tenderness. Your poor DH must just have been unlucky!

annsixty Thu 08-Oct-15 09:51:44

After our queue experience on Saturday (previous post) I rang the surgery to be told that they have an open clinic every day between 12 and 1pm!! So why the queues on Saturday? We turned up,a Dr "jabbed" us both and we were out in 5mins.They didn't have the shingles vaccine in and I go back next week for that.

durhamjen Sat 31-Oct-15 16:47:57

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/immunisation/practice-challenges-nhs-chief-over-4m-wasted-flu-vaccine/20030344.article

I thought this would happen.

By the way, I've just read in the i yesterday, that statins may suppress your immune system and stop the flu vaccine from working.

Crafting Sun 01-Nov-15 12:10:34

Doctors do not get "free NHS" money to keep their surgeries open and running and to pay staff, buy equipment etc. They have to earn it. One of the ways they do this is by being paid to give flu jabs, shingles, child immunisations etc.