My wife was struck down with Influenza about 8-9 days ago. She hadn't been offered the injection. She is still suffering the after-effects.

I know there has been a lot of problems with 'Flu and Novovirus this winter.

I had my jab in late October last year and feel fine, in spite of living in close proximity to her throughout. I have always been susceptible to bronchitis from a very early age, and in later years asthma.

Whilst I may end up with something nasty before the winter is over, I wonder if you think the 'Flu jab has/has not worked for you this year.

Do you think it is a good thing to have?

My partner gets them though his work medical thingy and whilst I have been sniffing away most of this Winter he has not had a sniffle since his injection. And he does like a man-cold. Gets to stay at home and play on his X-BOX for a few days.

So I think it must be doing him some good. I want one.

I have the flu jab every year for medical reasons, and so far all I've been struck down with is a really nasty cold last week.

I've found that, on average, ever since I started having the flu jab in 2001 (and I had the pneumonia jab at that time), I usually have one cold a year, except last year, but that was due to my becoming anaemic and very run down.

So, yes, I do think it has worked this year.:thumbsup:

I used to *have* to have them as I had asthma when I was little... I don't remember being ill during the winter, just had the odd sniffle... I had the last one when I was about 11, and I still dont ever get ill... only really rarely...

Dont they have to do a bit of 'guess work' when coming up with a flu vaccine each year, as they have to hope the vaccine is the right one for the type of flu bug that is going around.

Having said that ive had the jab done this winter still got a cold but it was very mild and came and went within 48hrs, compared to some of my friends who have not had the jab and have been off work for days with terrible head colds, so i guess it must do some good.

I don't know because I STILL haven't had one. The doctor's says there's a massive shortage and they still don't know if they'll get any. They've been saying the same thing since October and I was told they'd have them in January. Didn't happen. :rant:

I wish we'd been able to get our flu shots for this year. There was a shortage of the vaccine on the west coast, and since none of us are in any of the high risk groups, we were turned away.

My son caught type A influenza (according to our family doctor) from school. Brought back by a girl in his class who left California and went with her family to visit relatives in Mexico for a month. I have not been this ill in 25 years. My son and I were really sick, (were finally starting to feel better after three weeks!) my husband less so, and my daughter scarcely at all.

It's rare that I'm sick, let alone forced to stay in bed for days, but this flu was a nasty one. Next year, were getting flu shots. Even if I have to bribe or threaten someone. :o

:) Sierra

There was a big rush for the 'flu jab overe here in the UK before Christmas.

Mostly people reading all about Bird Flu.

Needless to say, they only wanted it because they had ordered a Turkey for their Christmas Dinner. :)

Sorry you and yours are having a torrid time Sierra, my wife has had 'flu and is still trying to get over it.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to you all.

There was a big rush for the 'flu jab overe here in the UK before Christmas.

Mostly people reading all about Bird Flu.

Needless to say, they only wanted it because they had ordered a Turkey for their Christmas Dinner. :)

Sorry you and yours are having a torrid time Sierra, my wife has had 'flu and is still trying to get over it.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to you all.

Thank you kindly, shoeshine. My best wishes to your wife as well. I know just what she's going through. Yep. This sort of took me by surprise. The US government does encourage everyone to have a flu shot, but because of the shortage this year, only the elderly, very young children, those with compromised immune systems, health workers, etc. got the vaccine.

I tell you, next year will be different. heh. ;) Bird flu, turkey dinner? :hihi:

:) Sierra

My elderly parents declined the 'flu jab two years ago. Then the doc saw Dad in the surgery one day, and got the nurse to give him his jab. On Boxing Day, Mum caught the 'flu. By early New Year, she was no better, and was no longer eating. She fell out of bed one night during a coughing fit, and was so weak she couldn't get up off the floor. Dad had to lift her back into bed, hurting his knee in the process. Mum continued to deteriorate with this awful 'flu. She stayed in bed, and stopped taking fluids. My sister and I visited the doc, and he got her admitted to hospital. The hospital got her rehydrated, but she was sent home the next day. Mum remained extremely ill, and I actually sat by her bedside when she was asleep, held her hand, and said my goodbyes to her. Fortunately, after three weeks of terrible illness, she did recover.

Dad, who had the jab, never even caught a cold. Mum, who didn't have the jab, nearly died. I know what conclusions I drew from this dreadful time - always have the 'flu jab.

I'm so sorry about your mother redrobbo. I tell you, I had meningitis when I was 22, and this flu was WORSE! The loss of some weight did me a world of good, but my boy lost 14 lbs in three weeks, and he didn't have it to spare.

He turned 13 new year's day, is 5'4" and a half and weighed 110 lbs. before the flu. We both went to the doctor day before yesterday, and he weighed 96 lbs. The kid's jeans and shirts are hanging on him, and his dad had to punch another hole in his belt to keep his drawers up!

I broke my own rule yesterday and just this once let him eat in-N-out burgers and fries for dinner.

Anyone who hasn't had the flu shot yet, and you can get it, go on! Save yourselves!

:) Sierra

The US government does encourage everyone to have a flu shot, but because of the shortage this year, only the elderly, very young children, those with compromised immune systems, health workers, etc. got the vaccine.



They're the only people who are offered a 'flu vaccination in this country but this year a lot of people in those groups, including myself, didn't get them. Now if anyone even so much as looks at me like they have the 'flu I run a mile.

So own up then which of you otherwise healthy people took our vaccine because they were paranoid about Bird 'Flu :suspect:

I should explain why I started this thread.

My elderly neighbour, aged 75, is my wife's friend, and my wife visits her every morning to ensure she is OK etc.

The lady has a daughter who does not visit her every day, runs a busy work/holiday schedule and has 3 children.

The week before last, the ladies' daughter left one of the Grandchildren in her care, suffering from the novovirus (Winter Vomiting Syndrome), and of course the lady got the infection and has had a traumatic time.

Yesterday, with my wife having been ill and unable to visit our neighbour, the lady, still not fully recovered, came to see my wife. The interesting point she raised was that, following a recent visit to her doctor, the doctor professed that the 'Flu jab was ineffective, and a waste of time.

Hence the post. Mind you the lady is a bit deaf and perhaps she misheard the doctor's comments.

I should explain why I started this thread.

My elderly neighbour, aged 75, is my wife's friend, and my wife visits her every morning to ensure she is OK etc.

The lady has a daughter who does not visit her every day, runs a busy work/holiday schedule and has 3 children.

The week before last, the ladies' daughter left one of the Grandchildren in her care, suffering from the novovirus (Winter Vomiting Syndrome), and of course the lady got the infection and has had a traumatic time.

Yesterday, with my wife having been ill and unable to visit our neighbour, the lady, still not fully recovered, came to see my wife. The interesting point she raised was that, following a recent visit to her doctor, the doctor professed that the 'Flu jab was ineffective, and a waste of time.

Hence the post. Mind you the lady is a bit deaf and perhaps she misheard the doctor's comments.

I wouldn't say it's a waste of time, if it was then it would also be a huge waste of money and NHS resources. It isn't 100% effective and only protects against whichever couple of strains of 'flu you have been vaccinated against, and 'flu does mutate pretty quickly. There are also several hundred strains in existence at any one time. The lady having Norovirus isn't really relevant as 'Flu vaccination won't protect against it. If perhaps she mentioned Bird 'Flu then the doctor would have said the vaccine is effective against this? As far as I know it saves the lives of many vulnerable people each year.

Flu shots work & work well for the known strains going around the world,bird flu is not in the same class,It's a muti billion to 1 chance it could jump fm bird to human(airbourne),the only infected humans have worked on infected birds. The only problem with this is it DID happern in 1920,if the impossible strikes again.they say it takes yrs to develop the right vaccine

I've had my flu jab every October for the past 5 or so years and in all that time I've only ever had one day off work sick. I got a pnumonia jab a couple of years ago as well.

I'm with the Tramways medical centre in Hillsboro and they've never turned me down for one despite not being old and frail. I have extremely moderate asthma though which is why I can get it.