• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Have you had your Flu Jab?

adrian207

adrian207

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,785
Location
Rochdale
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
flu.jpg
This year's seasonal flu vaccine is barely able to protect people from the main strain of flu being spread in the UK, health officials say.

Doctors are being urged to use antiviral drugs quickly to protect vulnerable patients.

Evidence shows the vaccine is stopping only three out of every 100 vaccinated people from developing symptoms.

But Public Health England says people should still get vaccinated to protect against other strains of flu.

Flu is a constantly shifting target and that makes it difficult to develop a vaccine. It is why a new jab is needed each year.

Twelve months ago, the World Health Organization settled on the three most likely strains of flu that would be circulating this winter.

But one of them has since mutated so significantly that the vaccine seems to offer little protection.

It works in just three out of every 100 people. A flu vaccine normally works in 50 out of every 100.

Deadly
The strain in question, H3N2, is also a particular worry as it primarily kills the elderly.

There have been outbreaks in care homes and overall there has been a higher-than-expected number of deaths in elderly people this year.

Prof Nick Phin, from Public Health England, told the BBC: "We have seen an increase in excess deaths, probably the biggest increase we've seen since 2008-09, so I'm sure that a significant contribution to this will have been the vaccine not being as effective as it usually is."

Public Health England reached the conclusion after a study on 1,314 patients hospitalised with flu in the UK.

Similar levels of viral mutation have been reported in the US and Canada.

Public Health England has already said this is the worst flu season out of the past three years, but is circulating at nowhere near epidemic levels.

'Get vaccinated'
Dr Richard Pebody, the head of flu surveillance at Public Health England, said: "Throughout the last decade, there has generally been a good match between the strains of flu in the vaccine and those that subsequently circulate, so it's crucial that these results do not discourage people in at-risk groups from having flu vaccination now, or in the future."

He said the vaccine would still protect against swine flu and influenza B, "both of which may yet circulate this season" so he urged at-risk people to get vaccinated.

He added: "Our findings also mean that the early use of antivirals to treat and help prevent serious cases of flu in vulnerable patients is even more important this season."

The deputy chief medical officer, John Watson, said: "The latest data show that levels of flu are generally decreasing in the UK.

"We do see 'drift' in the flu virus from time to time, but even so, I want to reassure people that it is still the best overall way to protect yourself and your family from flu, along with good hand hygiene.

"Antiviral drugs are available and effective, and doctors should prescribe them for those at greatest risk of becoming seriously ill due to flu."
 
Had mine in October, get it done every year now without fail.
 
I also had mine in October but had flu in December, horrible, and off my feet for several days heard a lot of people complaining of flu like illness this year
 
The Daily telegraph report says "The New study found that the vaccine is protecting just 3·4% of those given it.Patients were slightly more likely to get the mutated strain than those who did not have the flu jab"
CAROL
 
Have mine each year - done end of September or early October usually .

They did say this year's vaccine had a swine flu strain included as it was
predicted .
Been fine the last 4 years - never contracted flu virus .


Am touching wood here - posting this post though ;):)
Don't want to jinx myself !
 
Didn't get around to it - still getting used to this whole T2 thing and they'd finished doing vaccination clinics by the time I got my act together. However, I had a review just after Christmas and the nurse asked me if I wanted the jab then, so I said yes.

I have to say that I have never been entirely convinced about 'flu vaccine - I was invariably the only member of my family to have the jab (they did them at school) - and invariably the only one to get 'flu, it always seemed to me. Anyway, in spite of them getting the guesswork wrong this year, and giving us the wrong cocktail, I will make an effort to get vaccinated every autumn from now on. Flu (not to be confused with a heavy cold) is no joke, even when you're 100% fit.
 
Because I used to work with the elderly I got a flu jab every year for at least twenty years and this year is the first year I was ill. Definitely flu, I was really poorly in bed for three days and it made me question the reliability of the vaccine, seems this year they messed up!
 
They didn't really mess up- they make the Northern Hemisphere flu vaccine based on the strains most prevalent in the previous flu season in the Southern Hemisphere. Sadly the H3n2 component which is the strain that tends to cause the most serious illness particularly among the elderly or immune compromised has mutated sufficiently away from the vaccine strain in the interim to afford little protection.Hence we are looking at a worse flu season than we have been used to of late, for everyone.
I had mine in October.
 
I got mine done in October but like @cold ethyl says, the vaccine is made about 6 months or more before the flu season based on the previous years strain. aparrently the virus mutated far more than usual so the vaccine was pretty much ineffective. Despite that I would still have the vaccine this year. I also got caught for the pneumonia vaccine which i thought was for over 65's. A bit embarassing as I had to show off my two tatts to the GP. He was very nice, said he didn't stick the needle in the cat's bum!!:)
 
chris lowe said:
I got mine done in October but like @cold ethyl says, the vaccine is made about 6 months or more before the flu season based on the previous years strain. aparrently the virus mutated far more than usual so the vaccine was pretty much ineffective. Despite that I would still have the vaccine this year. I also got caught for the pneumonia vaccine which i thought was for over 65's. A bit embarassing as I had to show off my two tatts to the GP. He was very nice, said he didn't stick the needle in the cat's bum!!:)
Click to expand...

Ahh, must be a pet lover but why be embarrassed, for all you know he could be hiding one of his own
 
poohtiggy said:
Ahh, must be a pet lover but why be embarrassed, for all you know he could be hiding one of his own
Click to expand...
Somehow he doesn't seem the type. I just told him I was going through my rebellious phase, albeit 45 years too late. Just as well he didn't need to see my shoulders. ;)
 
Had it in December and have had it each year for many years. Don't get flu/colds often so have to be a fan I suppose. Only time will tell this year...

Stay well everyone
 
Had mine done in October, although the virus changes all the time and sometimes things like this happen I'd rather have the vaccine on the off chance it may lower my chances of catching flu
 
Back
Top