Flu Jab query .

Mine is booked for October. Tbh I reckon the sooner the better this year

Just had mine in Boots. Great service.

Sorry I meant to say I’d Say just get one as soo. As you can but I’m no scientist.

I had mine last week as did MrC who was/is the shielding category.
I'd be very concerned that they might run out.
There will be a massive take up this year.
Id ask a pharmacist if I were you.

Had mine 11days ago and also had pneumonia at same time in different arm.

DH and I had our flu jabs in Boots this morning. Booked it online a couple of weeks ago when our surgery told us they didn't have any vaccine yet and I saw ad in the paper. I was contacted by surgery yesterday to book an appointment as I'm in the shielding group however no mention of DH who is 70. Boots pharmacist was very very efficient. She said there's a month's waiting list now.
We've both also just had pneumonia jab and DH had shingles too as 70. I can't have that as it's live vaccine.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

Apologies over the abbreviation, GEGirl!

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,

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.

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

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’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.

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 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 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 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.