Flu Jab query .

i had mine yesterday, and i have heard experts whom i respect saying we should all get the flu jab this year, everyone, and to do so as soon as possible.
i also read that if one was to get flu and covid at the same time the risk of death is increased greatly.

I know I'm being daft BlueBelle . My husband's name for me is Nervous Nerys.

MissChateline

I’ve had my flu vaccination every year for many years. We were offered them through work before I retired. I’ve not had anything resembling flu or even more than a mild cold for at least 25 years. I tried to get a pneumonia vaccination at the same time but I wasn’t aware that the pharmacy charge was £70. Not being prone to chest infections I doubt that I would qualify for a doctors referral. Probably best saved for someone who really needs rather than me being ultra precautious.

I had my flu jab at Boots and had arranged to have a pneumonia jab at the same time, not realising it would cost me £70 so I cancelled that. She did say it covered more than the free NHS flu jab so I’m going to ask my doctor about it. I’m prepared to pay if it’s a better vaccine.

Oh dear kate you can’t die from it
It can’t make you ill as it’s not a live vaccine
I m booked for Oct 3 just pop in Boots while I m out shopping all good
I believe it is only 65 or those with certain conditions who get the free NHS jab charlie Always has been

Dr Bharat Pankhania said on his twitter on 20 Sept;
Surge in #COVID19 is a not second wave, but continuation of first.

Wherever we circulate with other human beings, infections go up. This also informs us about personal & strategic prevention measures to take.

Get your seasonal influenza vaccine, ASAP

Thank all for your opinions and advice .Greeneyedgirl I think what you said about having it later was what the person who told me to have it later was trying to explain to me . I have booked with my pharmacy to have I late October

We had ours done at the civic centre, organized by our GP. In one door and out another. There were just two staff - one greeter and a nurse. The nurse was excellent and it hardly hurt.

My husband told her that he had suggested we go to the pub for some lunch but I wouldn’t go (extremely vulnerable) so she offered to go with him!

I rang up my local pharmacy today to make an appointment and they are only doing over 65's which is my bracket. Mine is for tomorrow pm. Also, I have booked my cat Tara in early Friday am for her annual injections. She will be thrilled.

Have it done asap. I would normally wait a couple of weeks but this year is different. It will be another box ticked.

I had mine done yesterday at Tesco pharmacy. My local surgery supposedly hasn't had the delivery of vaccines yet. Very efficient, full PPE, didn't feel a thing. I thought it best to have one this year as from 1st Jan to 1st March this year I was very ill with what I think was bronchitis. Until yesterday I'd skipped the flu jab for about 5 years. I'm type 2 diabetic so it's offered free.

I’ve had my flu vaccination every year for many years. We were offered them through work before I retired. I’ve not had anything resembling flu or even more than a mild cold for at least 25 years. I tried to get a pneumonia vaccination at the same time but I wasn’t aware that the pharmacy charge was £70. Not being prone to chest infections I doubt that I would qualify for a doctors referral. Probably best saved for someone who really needs rather than me being ultra precautious.

I would say get a flu jab as soon as you can. There will be a massive takeup this year. I had it for the first time ever and have had no problems at all. There have been concerns in the media that the flu vaccine may run out.

I’ve had a flu jab for probably 20 years.
I would say Oct/Nov would be best but this year, just get one as soon as you can. Got mine booked for mid October.

Our local pharmacy was offering it as a "while you wait" to anyone over 65 or with certain medical conditions on Saturday.
I'm not that old so they said come back in October after they've done all the more urgent cases first.

I had flu vaccine last November and was ill for over four weeks after it and a sore chest for a couple of months.

We'll I've booked my first one ever for 9th Oct at the pharmacy. I'm very nervous as a relative swears it killed his mother some years ago. She died the day after having it.

I’ve always had the flu jab even before I was eligible due to age but because I have asthma and tend towards chest infections. I was talking to a lady yesterday whilst waiting in the chemist and she swore her sister has been dreadfully ill since having this years. I can’t believe that and tried to reassure her that it wasn’t ‘live’ as we’re told but she wouldn’t be convinced. I’m having mine next week.

We have always attempted to follow the guidelines "
After the flu jab, you will need about 2 weeks plus for the immunity to kick in. From that date, you then have about 3 "good" months of cover. Sometimes the flu' outbreak can be later or a lot earlier than expected, so it is not exactly a precise science.

Usually we have our jabs by mid October, end October we have full immunity and then we have November, December, January to be sure of that cover. Later is sometimes a better idea, but who knows?

I had it for the first time in 20 years, just last week. Yes, she did give it quite high up the arm, nearly at the shoulder. It surely can't make much difference although I did have trouble sleeping because of (both) shoulder ache.
Being a novice I just thought it was normal.

I have seen nothing locally inviting us to have the flu vaccination. Normally you queue for a drop in at the health centre on certain dates but I guess it will be different this year.

I am one of those who has never had the vaccine. I have several reasons for this, rightly or wrongly. As I am not mixing much at all because of Covid I would be unlucky to catch it this year,

Apologies over the abbreviation, GEGirl!

GGGirl guess we were lucky then! Must be something wrong with the training, back in '60s we had to draw the target areas on each other, and practice on oranges until the poor things burst with the extra fluid injected into them!

I have done hundreds of vaccinations in my career and had one in Sainsbury’s a few years ago by someone who clearly had no experience. I had a bruised and sore arm for a fortnight B9.

Bizarre experience in Boots, we both had the vaccine given far to far up the arm by a presumed pharmacist, who seemed nervous, I think she hadn't done that many. As an ex nurse I would never have given it that high up, almost in the shoulder joint, and my shoulder was decidedly painful, difficult to move my arm for 48 hours. Might go back to my regular pharmacist next year!

The broad answer to the OP is that immunity after vaccination broadly lasts 6 months, effectiveness gradually waning over time, and takes about 10 - 14 days to stimulate immunity after vacc.

The caveat is that all individuals are different in their immune response to the vaccine, and some may retain high levels, and some low or none. For over 65s the newer vaccine should provoke a better immune response.

It therefore depends on the time the flu season starts, and if they have judged the correct strains of vaccine for the circulating viruses. I always have it to be sure.

When I was working in this field we used to tell people 'as long as you have it by January'. This year I would just get it done asap.