Covid

I’m 74 but only been invited for flu jab again this year

Maybe they’re doing flu first in your area. I was undecided whether to have it or not, but I feel so poorly I’m going to have it now. I think you’re supposed to wait 4 weeks after being infected.

Did you have a very sore throat Erica23 as that appeared to be a recent strain of Covid.
We have only been offered Flu Vaccine here so far.
Hope you are feeling better 💐

Hi Thank you. No not sore throat just scratchy with a dry cough, a temperature D&V oh and a blocked / runny nose

Erica23

Anyone else had this recently ? I’ve been ill three days now and it’s absolutely floored me. We’ve been invited to book our covid jabs for the first time since autumn 24 we’re under 75.
Makes you wonder why their including the younger age group this time.

That's strange, I've just looked on the NHS website and it says over 75s only (unless immune compromised). Maybe there is a lot about in your area? Hope you feel better soon x

Thank you. Yes I’ve read that too. But we’ve definitely had an invite for covid unless it’s a mistake. We’ve made appointments for late September so we’ll see what they say.

The NHS website says:

You can get a COVID-19 vaccine if you:

• are aged 75 or over (including those who will be 75 by 31 January 2027)

• are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment

•live in a care home for older adults

Vaccination appointments will take place from 1 October 2026.

You  may also be able to get vaccinated at:

• a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site

• a local service, such as a community pharmacy or your GP surgery

• your care home (if you live in a care home for older adults)

You do not need to wait for an invitation before booking an appointment.

www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/

I have a friend 70 and a younger brother 72 neither has been invited, I just texted them because I know they both feel they should be offered the jab.
Strange.

Yes, both of us had covid recently for the first time, felt a bit rough for a couple of days with a slight temperature, and flu like symptoms. It took a couple of weeks or so to feel completely well. We paid for a covid jab last November and probably have to pay again this year as we're both under 75.

I’m 77 with compromised immune system. My surgery phoned I’m booked in for flu and Covid imms in early October.

I tested positive for Covid last Friday and am now negative (since yesterday). I thought I had a cold for a couple of days but felt so dreadful I decided to do a test just to eliminate Covid. I hadn't knowingly been in contact with it so was very shocked when a bright red line appeared within seconds of doing the test. I've had Covid before but this time it was much worse. Sore eyes, exhausted, awful cough, tickly throat, blocked nose, feverish, really horrible. I did get over the worst fairly quickly and now just cough occasionally and get tired very easily. I had had a jab in April so can't imagine how nasty it might have been without a jab. I had considered taking a break from the vaccine this autumn but this has definitely changed my mind!
I sadly passed it on to DH who is 4 days behind me on this unpleasant journey and he has been more unwell than I was. 2 days with hardly any food or drink as his throat was too sore to swallow even small sips of water. I was very worried, had never seen him so ill but thankfully following excellent medical advice he has turned the corner today and is making good progress.
This messed up our plans for a family gathering but at least we're recovering now.
My advice... do take whatever steps possible to avoid contact with potential infection... it's no fun at all.

I’m booked for a flu jab in October, but covid has not been mentioned. I’m 79. I can’t remember whether it was last year when I went for a flu jab and was offered a covid jab while I was there.

I’ve just had the same symptoms as you, JoyBloggs, but never thought it might be covid. Now my daughter has it, after a fairly brief contact with me before I even realised I was ill.

Hear, hear Erica and JoyBloggs - every sympathy.
I went down with COVID on my return from a family holiday in the South of France last year (thank you the man near me on the Eurostar who coughed all the way to France) and was wiped out for three weeks.
Since then I have heard of quite a few people with similar symptoms to mine but who dismissed them as a ‘summer cold/flu’.
I would urge anybody with summer cold/flu type symptoms to TEST, yes we have the vaccine and yes, it’s no longer necessarily a killer but the consequences can still be very serious. And yes, take the jab if it’s offered.
I had had an appointment for a hospital procedure on a malignant lesion two days after I came home and if I hadn’t tested I would have waltzed into a hospital and could have infected I don’t know how many others.

Sorry to hear you and your husband have been so poorly. My DH, I presume had it before me, but only had cold symptoms so it must vary greatly between people. We haven’t been offered a booster since autumn ‘24. If we’re offered one this year we’ll definitely take it.
It’s a nasty virus and obviously still around unfortunately.