Flu vaccination

[Copper]

I have been invited to my surgery for a flu vaccination for the first time ever. I have been asthamtic for over 35 years but it has been dormant for about 6 years. I recently renewed my inhaler which must have triggered this response from the surgery. My mother told me that she also had extra information from her surgery, which indicated that there would be a problem for anybody allergic to eggs.

I phoned my surgery and after many attempts spoke to the nurse's receptionist. She had not heard of this problem so if I didn't mind could I just turn up to a session and ask then. I was trying to save them time :(

I can see trouble ahead as we will have a debate about this - I am probably intolerant to eggs as they have the same effect on me as lactose. I am not sure this was ever put in my notes but I remember telling my GP when I identified this problem way back in the early 70s.

Why is life so complicated?!

[rebecca c]

I am entitled to it but havent had one for ages as I would rather not compromise my immune system any more than I have to. Mind you I will probably get flu this year as I havent had flu for 4 years and thats what they say the cycle of immunity is.

[Pam]

There was a notice up in the doctors surgery about people with egg allergies and the flu jab but I can't remember what it said. I think it was that you had to tell the nurse. Perhaps they just keep you on site for longer and have someone watch you in case of reactions.

[paranoidangel]

I had one last year for the first time ever, even though I've had asthma since I was little. Mind you, I had flu the week before the jab instead :) Didn't get an invite to one this year though.

[cnc]

I never get invited, was just told to return the following year. Haven't actually got round to having mine at the moment. Not sure I can face another trip to the doctors :D

[ellsie]

Usually have this but no invite this year. Flu vaccine is cultured in egg I think as they always ask me ,with my history ,if I am allergic to eggs.:blowup:

[Copper]

PA you should hassle your GP for a flu jab. You would have to tell them about your egg intolerance before they stick the needle in though.

[Pen]

In Ontario, everyone is encouraged to get a flu shot, regardless of whether they have any medical conditions.

Does the UK does not offer it to everyone simply to (try to) save money? If more people get the shot, there are less people left to get flu and therefore less sick people going to their doctors or ending up in hospital with complications.

[Nic]

I work in health policy, so I can explain some of this.

There's not much evidence for effectiveness (in population terms) for immunising healthy people. Which is why GPs are only asked to (and paid for) immunising people with long term conditions such as asthma, diabetes, coronary heart disease etc. These are the people who are more likely to get seriously ill (or even die) from flu - healthy people are fairly unlikely to get it seriously. Health workers are immunised because they'll be needed to look after people who do get very ill - not because they're likely to get very ill themselves.

The reason GPs have started chasing you up recently is because last year a system called the Quality and Outcomes Framework was introduced. This gives them a much bigger financial incentive to do flu jabs for people with long term conditions (they earn points, and each point is worth an average of £75).

Nic

[Pen]

This is Ontario's take on why they think most people should get a flu shot:
"Myth #2: I'm young and healthy. I don't need a flu shot.
Fact: Influenza is much worse than a cold. Even healthy young adults can become seriously ill. On average, people who become sick from the flu are bed-ridden for up to five days, causing them to lose time from work or vacation. Besides, if you develop the flu, there's a chance you might infect others who are at much higher risk than you: young children, elderly people, or someone with a medical condition who could end up with serious complications from the flu and end up in hospital."
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/pubhealth/flu/flu_03/factsheets/flu_myths.html

[matt]

i've had it ever year for the last ten or so, firstly dueto the job and now becuase i'm so run down. mine booked for 22nd.

touch wood have avoided it but rather concerned with the chances of bird flu...

[Pam]

I'm surprised that they haven't extended the vaccination programme to children as they say that this pandemic can kill the young, elderly and anyone who is medically weak (asthma, weak heart, poor immune system etc). Hubby and I were talking about it last night and we're quite worried for the children really.

I've only had flu once and slept for a whole week. I hope it doesn't come round here.

[cnc]

I really should get round to sorting out my flu jab, don't think I want to add flu to my other problems really!!

[Nic]

Pam - Unfortunately there isn't a jab for the possible bird flu pandemic type of flou - its so virulent that it kills the eggs that they try to culture the vaccine in... But the NHS is stockpiling the anti-viral medicines which can make it less severe, though they don't have enough yet (only one company makes it). So the only thing to do is hope that it holds off for a while. So the jab they're offering at the moment (which reminds me, should probably go and get one) is just for 'normal' flu.

I would say 'try not to worry' but it seems to come with the territory. Puts me off being a mum.:unsure: Hope you're all OK, anyway.

Nic

[Pen]

I'm surprised that they haven't extended the vaccination programme to children
There is an article in today's Toronto Star about the importance of children getting the regular flu shot.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1129199068888&call_pageid=968867505381&col=969048872038&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes

[Pam]

There's a lot of truth in that. Bugs spread like wildfire around nurseries and infant schools (like headlice!!!) then the children bring the germs home to spread around their family. If I'm ill, it is usually something I have either caught from the children or from someone else at work.

So the anti-viral drugs - are they taken once it has struck or are they taken by vulnerable people as a preventative?

[cnc]

I believe that the ideal case would be to give it to all people as a preventative, but there is no way that the amount of drugs necessary could be produced to do this. Therefore vulnerable people will be offered the drugs if/when it becomes a real risk to people in this country. If the government is intending to act proactively about this then, as soon as it hits mainland Europe there should be a huge vaccination programme of the most vulnerable...
Its the same story as always, people in Westernised socities are those that are most likely to be able to fight off infection and yet we will be the ones who get the most protection from it. Deaths will be highest in less developed countries as usual.... I think my point here is, be thankful that you live in a country that has the knowledge/ money to be able to provide the anti-viral drugs, to those who are at the highest risk at the very least.

[rebecca c]

It all seems a little mad to me. A huge cull of domestic stock in Romania while in Indonesia people are living cheek by jowl with their birds. And anyway birds can fly for gods sake what good is a footbath.

I agree with Pam it is schools which are the real breeding grounds for most infections as well as big office blocks.

In think the hype about it is a bit much but hope it serves the purpose of getting some thing practical done not just here but in the poorer countries too.

[cnc]

Students also tend to be quite good at spreading various diseases around- especially those that have just returned from gap years, and then some people get ill, go home for the weekend to recover and spread it to their families etc...

The hype of this is very similar to that of SARS (which is still a threat, but seems everyones forgotten about that....)
I'd go for don't worry too much (easier said than done), as theres no point worrying about things you can't control.

[Nic]

Pam - on the anti-viral drugs (Tamiflu I *think* but don't quote me) you have to take them within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms in order for them to be effective. I find this slightly odd as last time I had flu I couldn't walk as far as the bathroom (in the end I crawled!), let alone the doctor's surgery, but there you go... Presumably you're meant to get someone to take you, or call the doctor for a home visit, but I can't imagine the latter happening in the middle of a flu pandemic.

Nic

[matt]

yeah tamiflu and similar within 48 hours of it starting. they'll be giving it to key workers in the event of pandemic.
no immunisation to it as it has yet to adapt to a virus that can go from person to person, until it does that it's impossible to do a vaccine. when it does all hell breaks loose as no one has immunity western or other. the problem is that living so close to the birds in asia gives it the chance it needs to cross species. then planes and ignoarant people will be the trouble. it's being given the media hype as it is panic news and sells papers.:angry:

[linny]

I usually have a flu jab as I have a lowered immune system and am only able to tolerate one anti-biotic. I started having one when I took immuno-suppressants. Last year my GP said she'd like me to see how I went on without one, but after that I was quite ill with a virus so she decided to give me the jab after all. I have an appointment with the doctor in early Nov. so I'll discuss it then.

The last really bad dose of flu I had started on 1.1.2000!! Not a good start to the new millennium!

[tigerlily]

My daughter is almost 2 and has Heart Disease. She had the flu jab four weeks ago.
The Health Visitor (who usually is VERY useless!) even called us at home to make sure EDEN was booked in!
Last year they asked about allergies and said they would not give it to a child who was allergic to eggs (she had a short 4 -months period were she was).

Vanessa.

[Pen]

Had my flu shot today. My 17 year-old daughter had hers on Monday (she is scared of needles and got her friend and a total stranger who just happened to put their head around the treatment room door, to hold a hand each!). I'm pretty proud of her even going to get it done at all. My 18-year-old daughter (in the UK) went to get hers on Monday but they had run out!! She now has to wait until the end of November until they get some more in!! Unbelievable!

[matt]

yeah i know aren't we good? but the governement assures us we'll all get the avian flu jab when it's available. so i've booked in the appointment for 2100!

[Pam]

I've heard of a lot of people having bad reactions to the flu jab this year. It isn't an option for me so the reaction isn't a problem that I have to worry about. The news seems to have gone quiet about avian flu at the moment so is it just going to disappear or is this the calm before the storm?

[cnc]

Pen, I've had to wait until 22nd of November for mine, and even then I was struggling to get an appointment and I booked in last week!! Dread to think what flu combined with my current state of well being could do to me :unsure:

Pam, these things always do go quiet, theres not much of a story in 'yet another bird is culled in so and so'.... There are places on the internet that you can read about whats going on. The World Health Organisation is usually quite useful- acts on the worst case scenario as they are the organisation for the world!!Until its actually mutated into a human-to-human version, then there isn't much to be said really.

[linny]

Went to see my GP on Tuesday, and she wants me to try without a flu jab this year as I'm no longer 'immunosuppressed'! Keeping my fingers crossed! I might have made a mistake saying that I'd help on a stall at the school Christmas Fair, I'll wear a mask!

[Copper]

My GP surgery run a few open clinics for the flu jab. The first was Saturday (I have no intention of getting up early for that) and the queue was very very long. I intend to go to the Tuesday 15th clinic 2-3 pm so I can't work late that day. I will not be happy if after a long wait they tell me that I can't have it!!! I think I am intolerant to eggs rather than allergic.

[cnc]

Ours is much more civilised than that. You have to make an appointment. Suppose I should have got round to making mine earlier, but was a bit distracted!!

Hope you get to have your jab after the queuing Copper.

[Kamagrian]

Mine was a surprise! I was having a normal talk with my doctor and he mentioned that I probably ought to have it, given that my current pancreatic problems making me so ill to start with. Then, instead of making me make an appointment, he arranged for me to have one right then and there. Fairly efficient really! :) Having to queue and not knowing whether you're going to be turned away sounds very uncivilised....

[cnc]

Mine was quite civilised as well. Involved booking an appointment and then turning up, my biggest complaint was that it was at some anti-social time of day for me- something like 8.30am!! I was offered the option of not having mine as apparently the jab can make PVF worse, but I thought PVF+Flu would be considerably worse!!