Cinnamon Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 I usually have a flu jab each year in Boots,but I have read with alarm that this years vaccine includes the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) vaccine & there is no way you can have a jab without this. If I remember rightly,many people opted out of having the vaccine this particular strain last year Not sure if I am going to go ahead & have the jab or not - anyone else pondering? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sensi5446 Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Hi, I've read the same thing but I don't agree with vaccinations as a whole and considering they are sold for profit make me even more cautious. IMO the flu jabs are unnecessary. cheers Luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 I always have a cold and with asthma and being outside at the farm for ages, Mother said I had to have the jabs last year I'm still here Surely having the swine flu vaccine in there is a good thing?... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 24, 2010 Author Share Posted October 24, 2010 I think the worry was that it had not been tested awfully thoroughly last year,Lewis Personally,I would rather have the jab than have the Flu & be laid up for 2 weeks,taking a further 6 to recover fully from post viral syndrome,as I did a few years ago. I am a Mum - we simply cannot get that sick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Last year I had a really bad chest infection and have been offered the flu jab this year. I decided to have it as it is on offer - like you Cinnamon I'm a Mum and can't afford to be sick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Like you Cinnamon I'm a mum and also a nurse and get asthma and so I decided to have the jab this year. I have had it every yr for ages as in this job people are very genoerous with their germs. I have numerus patients moaning about it and why had "I" put swine flu in it (me! yeah right) I promptly replied I hadnt made the vaccine I onlty give it and if they dont want it then fine. Many esp the elderly fear flu with a vengeance esp if living alone. \Most people have had it only 2 so far who decided against it, i will say my arm was sorer than usual this yr - I had a very sore arm last yr with the swine flu jab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 You should really only need a flu jab if your immune system is compromised Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raina Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 I have Asthma & a low immune system but i don't think i've ever had a flu jab I do get ill quite often (I even had Swine flu last year) but......i'd much rather be ill than have a needle lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 There was talk of concerns over the swine flu vaccine being linked to narcolepsy - don't know how much true there is in it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Oh dear - I am due to have my flu jab on Wednesday afternoon - don't know what to do now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 This reminds me of that MMR scare a few years ago. Don't believe everything you read in the Daily Mail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 It was strange though that after the really bad weather we had the news turned off from the swine flu and concentrated on the weather in britain and forgot the flu after the weather warmed up. We have heard nothing about it for ages if I am right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 You've reminded me i need to book mine thank you. Personally i'm having it regardless, I'm an asthmatic who has m.e. One bout of flu and i could be out of commission for a year or more and there is no way I'm risking it. I'm not that worried about the H1n1 thing, there is a lot of scaremongering about vaccines but could you imagine the legal ramifications if they didn't test it properly? No way would a company risk it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 I'm going for mine on Thursday - I am asthmatic and had the swine flu jab last year as well.; I suppose it's easier in one jab instead of two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sageandonion Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 OH had his yesterday - has had a flu jab for the last few years. He's an asthmatic too and pre flu jab has ended up in A&E several winters running. Not since he's had the flu jab though luckily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 I wouldn't touch the Swine Flu Vaccine with a bargepole after reading about the connection with Guillane Barre Syndrome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 24, 2010 Author Share Posted October 24, 2010 This reminds me of that MMR scare a few years ago. Don't believe everything you read in the Daily Mail. I didn't actually.....saw a sign up on the pharmacy counter in Tesco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 As you are probably aware, the flu virus constantly mutates, which is why you need a new vaccine every year. Every vaccine will have been tested to the same standard, and all the vaccine viral components will be new compared to the ones you last had. As more flu virus variants are discovered, more will be incorporated into the vaccine every year. It may be swine flu this year, next year it will be another, or several new variants. So it's not reasonable to say the swine flu element will not have been tested thoroughly. All the viral elements are new so will likely have had less time for testing than the swine flu element. And although there are risks with any chemical that we put into our bodies; don't forget that more people die of flu than react badly to the vaccine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 25, 2010 Author Share Posted October 25, 2010 Totally agree Snowy, but its a shame people can't opt out of the Swine Flu part of the jab if they wanted to I will probably get one anyhow as I am terrified of getting 'proper' flu again after my experience last time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 We are offered the flu jab routinely at work. I always opt out. I have only ever had one bout of flu when the children were smaller, and don't have an annual cold, so I'm guessing I'm relatively resistent....Loads of people who did have the jab are now complaining about painful arms, a couple have got colds..which could just be coincidence..... I feel people should have been given the choice about the swine flu vaccine. Personally I wouldn't have any type of flu jab unless I knew that my immune system was compromised in some way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Hi, I've read the same thing but I don't agree with vaccinations as a whole and considering they are sold for profit make me even more cautious. IMO the flu jabs are unnecessary. cheers Luke Me too, I think it's unnecessary unless you have a compromised immune system, asthma, or are elderly. Having said that, Phil's folks aren't having it this year as the jab made them pretty poorly last autumn. I had proper flu once and it wasn't pleasant, but I survived and my immune system is probably stronger as a result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 swine flu is a varient of H1N1 virus that is around all the time, all the hype last year was just that we didnt know what it would do because it was a new strain, luckily it didnt do much at all but time will tell. Every year the flu jab will contain a varient of H1N1 its hjust how it is.!! I had mine got a slighly sore arm but thats it, not everyone needs or should be vaccinated against flu, its a judgement about balancing risk with benefits. If you are young fit & healthy & get flu it would be very unlucky if you became seriously ill. it does happen of course, but people who are at risk need the benefit of being vaccinated. If you like me have asthma or other respiratory problems or diabetes kidney problems, or are elderly, influenza can put so much strain on your immune system that you cannot cope & succum to the virus in a big way. Influenza kills people in the UK every year but that news dosn't sell papers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess1merlin Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 I had the two separate jabs last year with no problems except for a sore arm after the swine jab. I will behaving a flu jab on saturday and will continue to have one each year as I'm am asthmatic. I had a bad cold last year that went straight to my chest and ended up having to call out the paramedics as I couldn't breath (not something I have ever had to do before) so I think it best to be proactive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 OH has a reduced immune system after his 2 brain ops. It was recommended that I have the swine flu jab last year too, just in case I pass it onto him. Very achy arm, but better that that off sick for weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMitch Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Had mine a fortnight ago and I didn't even get a sore arm this year. I'd rather have the jab than have flu. I work for a pharmeceutical company and although we don't make the flu vaccine we make others. There isn't the need for them to go through full clinical trials (which take years) as it is not a new product with unknown results. Viruses constantly mutate so the vaccines need to be tweeked abit, if there was any risk there is no way the MHRA would allow it to be released. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
