'Tis the season to get the jab, again

Although I am "only" 54, I have had a (free)flu jab every year for the past 5 years as I suffer from an underlying condition and was hospitalised with the flu 6 years ago in the early hours of christmas morning.

Very sore arm (worse than usual) and a few sniffles but that's it. Very grateful for it too.

Had mine, not even a sore arm (maybe they missed??)

I've been having the flu jab annually for 20 years and have also had the pneumonia one. I've never had an adverse reaction and the site of the injection has rarely been noticeable or sore. And, having at one time been subject to frequent doses of flu, I have been free of it for all of those 20 years.
Maybe I am lucky, but am certainly grateful.

Any retired Gps on GN , your input would be appreciated

I had mine a few weeks ago, had the usual sore arm but also this year a bad headache for a couple of days.

I have always been ill after my flu injection, everyone said it was a coincidence then DH had his last month and was ill for ten days.

I agree with you Anya..I was perfectly healthy I never get colds...(I had flu in 1979 so know how terrible it is) BUT I believe that something in the flu jab has made me ill!!!!horrendous cough.runny nose.aching muscles and legs feel like jelly!!...Ii would never tell anyone else not have it...its their choice. BUT I know it has made me really ill....?

After being extremely ill 2 years ago after having a flu jab, I wont be having anymore, its all very well doctors telling you that when your older to have the flu jab but they do not look into the facts of your own health before giving you the flu jab. I have M.E. and the flu jab can give you a serious relapse ( which it did in my case) no one warned me about this!

I agree that you cannot get flu from it, but you can experience other mild to severe reactions. There is more in the vaccine than simply deactivated strains of flu.

I agree , we all make choices but some people are easily put off by hearing stories about getting flu from the jab . It is not possible . If you were incubating some virus when you had the jab it would be easy to think it was the jab which made you ill . Some people are allergic to some of the components so may choose not to have it but it contains no live virus so you cannot get flu from it .

I used to take that attitude f77ms until it happened to me after my first 'flu jab and I was ill for over two months. When I say I'll, I'm not talking just a sore arm and achy muscles. There's far too much anecdotal evidence out there about severe side effects for it to be rubbished.

Real 'flu is no joke I agree, I had a really bad dose in 1968 and lost a week of my life.

You make you choice and I'll make mine.

I would so love to have the flu jab. I had two with no ill effects but with the third I had a frightening allergic reaction. My arm was itching and really swollen, my ears, eyes and throat were itching and I had to dial 111 and see the GP next day. The conclusion is that I can never have it again or it could be fatal.

I am totally fed up about this and can only try to stay well.

The flu jab cannot make you ill as it contains no live virus . A sore arm and achy muscles is the worst you can expect , If you actually had real flu you would be first in line for the jab the following year ! Please don`t anyone be put off by stories of people getting flu from the jab , it is not possible . I had flu 2 years ago , the only year I missed the jab. I have never been so ill ! temp of 102 for 7 days , pneumonia and hallucinations and I lost nearly a stone in 10 days. Real flu is no joke and is a killer for people in the older age bracket. I will never miss mine again , in fact I was one of the first to have it in September .

Had my first one ten days ago and am so so ill...never again!!!!

I had mine a couple of days ago, I'm not eligible for a free one, but have been having them now for 12 or so years, money well spent, although luckily I've never had flu in my entire life.

We had ours a couple of weeks ago and have been having them for as long as we can remember as we are both immunocompromised. Never had a reaction.

H and I have had flu jabs for the last 6 yrs or so as we are both T2 diabetic. Neither of us has ever had a reaction.
We had ours done today

Yes, merlotgran there is.

I was invited to have my first flu jab, but haven't taken them up on the offer. Everyone I know who has been for theirs has been ill! I don't think I'll have one this year. Anyway I'm not 65 until December.

Isn't there another thread about this?

No we don't have them.

No, although I could have one free at Boots (offer with Advantage card money-off coupons that came today).

Son had his from Boots. 1st time.
And first time he has had a cold and asthma attack due to it.
We are thinking to tell Boots, as he has never had a problem from the surgery in the past.
He did inform the doctor.