The flu

[Yellow Fang]

My stepfather has been pushing me to get a flu jab. I am not that bothered, but it might be sensible. I am edging into the valley of death (57). I tried three pharmacies: Boots, Super drug, and a local pharmacy. They say they have either run out of are saving them for older patients.
I am a bit puzzled about flu. I have been told that the difference between cold and flu is that if you see a £50 note in the garden, you would go out and pick it up if you only had a cold. Is that the only difference, because I rarely get that ill. Do lots of people suffer more minor symptoms.

 

[vickster]

My stepfather has been pushing me to get a flu jab. I am not that bothered, but it might be sensible. I am edging into the valley of death (57). I tried three pharmacies: Boots, Super drug, and a local pharmacy. They say they have either run out of are saving them for older patients.
I am a bit puzzled about flu. I have been told that the difference between cold and flu is that if you see a £50 note in the garden, you would go out and pick it up if you only had a cold. Is that the only difference, because I rarely get that ill. Do lots of people suffer more minor symptoms.

Proper flu can be really quite nasty, high fever, severe aches, fatigue, potentially diarrhoea and vomiting plus the usual cold stuff of bad throat, cough, headache, congestion.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/
Up to you if you think the vaccination is worth it for you to hopefully reduce/shorten the symptoms if you do get it. A friend (50, healthy) just had flu and spent about 10 days in bed over Christmas (not ideal when you have kids). There's a lot more of it around this year.
Don't know if post-viral syndromes are more likely after flu, or even more serious respiratory illnesses like pneumonia

 

[Big John]

There's a lot more of it around this year

My son(43) has just had it over Xmas. There definitely seems to be a lot of it around. It's currently causing a serious headache for the NHS according to recent news.

 

[MontyVeda]

I get offered a flu jab each year by my GP but I don't bother having one. I've never had proper flu as an adult (most call a bad cold 'flu', but it isn't flu) and my mother has no recollection of me having it as a child... so i must be immune

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

I’m 60 so don’t qualify for an NHS jag. Paid £15 for one at a local chemist, seems worth it.

 

[lazybloke]

With long waiting lists, rammed A&E depts and a massive seasonal spike in winter bugs, why wouldn't you do your bit to lighten the load on the NHS?

If you're offered jabs, have them.
And a lot of people should think about washing their hands occasionally!

 

[simongt]

And a lot of people should think about washing their hands occasionally!

Yup. The number of men I see walking out of public toilets without bothering to wash their hands is scarey. Just thinking of the bacteria on the doorhandles.

 

[Sharky]

I've been having the flu jab, and the COVID jab for the last few years. But I've noticed there is another, the RSV vaccine, which helps coughs and colds. Offered to 75 to 79 yr old or if you are pregnant. I will satisfy one of the criteria next month!

Anybody on here had the RSV jab?

 

[Electric_Andy]

I still don't think I've ever had the Flu. I thought I had it about 10 years ago but it turned out I'd taken too many opiode based painkillers and had some sort of reaction. I had a chest infection in September which was the worst I'd ever felt, but that was not Flu. I had the Flu jab once about 14 years ago and it made me so ill I had to go home. I'm not having one again unless I'm told to

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I've been having the flu jab, and the COVID jab for the last few years. But I've noticed there is another, the RSV vaccine, which helps coughs and colds. Offered to 75 to 79 yr old or if you are pregnant. I will satisfy one of the criteria next month!

Anybody on here had the RSV jab?

No, at 68 I am still a youngster!

I will definitely have it when offered, though.

I had an aquaintance who did not have the pneumonia jab and sadly he died a couple of years after refusing it, of... pneumonia.

Getting older (around 60+) you are in the high mountains equivalent of the Death Zone. With enough things heading down the track that need dodging I do not understand people who play Russian Roulette with their health by not taking the offer of vaccinations up.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I still don't think I've ever had the Flu. I thought I had it about 10 years ago but it turned out I'd taken too many opiode based painkillers and had some sort of reaction. I had a chest infection in September which was the worst I'd ever felt, but that was not Flu. I had the Flu jab once about 14 years ago and it made me so ill I had to go home. I'm not having one again unless I'm told to

Go and get the flu jab.

There, you have been told.

 

[vickster]

I've been having the flu jab, and the COVID jab for the last few years. But I've noticed there is another, the RSV vaccine, which helps coughs and colds. Offered to 75 to 79 yr old or if you are pregnant. I will satisfy one of the criteria next month!

Anybody on here had the RSV jab?

RSV is another virus info here
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv/

 

[ColinJ]

Yup. The number of men I see walking out of public toilets without bothering to wash their hands is scarey. Just thinking of the bacteria on the doorhandles.

It can be even worse when they DO wash them...!

 

[Drago]

Imagine having a bad cold...while hungover and beaten badly with a cricket bat. It ain't fun.