Flu jab

I get a free flu jab because of my asthma. I make sure I get it every year (not had flu yet so...tbh I just don't fancy risking it given that having a cold hits my asthma quite hard). I tend to get it done at a pharmacy rather than my GP (if you're in England or Wales you can do either) because it's often more convenient. It always makes my arm ache/feel really weird for a day, I always make sure to get it when I've nothing too important on so I can take the rest of the day off, and I feel under the weather for a couple of days, but that's it (and that's good, because it means you're having an immune response like you should).

If you've been offered it, there's obviously a good reason you should have it.

Boating_taxonomist said:

It always makes my arm ache/feel really weird for a day, I always make sure to get it when I've nothing too important on so I can take the rest of the day off, and I feel under the weather for a couple of days, but that's it (and that's good, because it means you're having an immune response like you should).

...Especially this part:

Boating_taxonomist said:

nd I feel under the weather for a couple of days, but that's it

...I would like to Thank Mr Robert for starting this Thread if only just so that "Boating_Taxonomist" could Post such an answer - !!!!!!!!!! (& I voted both of you up.)

...I am Asthmatic as well, but do not want the "Jab". Some members of my family have it, and more often than not, they get "Flu like symptoms" after a day or so. The Media and officials vehemently maintain that the Flu Jab "does not cause Flu" - but Mr.BoatTax - you in my opinion have said it all, there.

I sincerely hope that "officials" are reading that. And now I know better why I have always avoided this Jab. If one's immune system is sort of weak anyway, then while it is engaged with that particular Strain of Flu-Jab, then other illnesses can attack with greater effect... perhaps...

(To Mr.BT, I apologise if you disagree or did not mean that at all. And Mr.Robert... I say, that if one is pretty healthy / has allowance anyway, as is suggested, then yes, do go and have the "Jab".)

I'm female btw, not a guy...but I'm also a biologist, and I can tell you, flu jabs do NOT cause flu and cannot give you flu.

You don't seem to understand how vaccines work; they introduce viral or bacterial antigens (the parts your immune system 'reocognises' when you encounter them) to your bloodstream that tells your body to make antibodies. So should you encounter the actual virus, you already have the antibodies to fight it off and prevent you from getting ill.  

Mild reactions (like slight fever or muscle aches) are simply a sign that your body is making antibodies. They are not symptoms of flu. These occur with any vaccinations and aren't unique to flu vaccines (anyone who has kids will know its common for kids to be a bit under the weather for a day or two after getting their routine childhood vaccinations).

There are some immune conditions that mean your immune system doesn't functioning properly where you might not be allowed to have the flu vaccination (or any other vaccination) because your immune system might not be able to react appropriately and it might make you more vulnerable to other illnesses. But otherwise, your immune system comes into contact with viruses and bacteria all the time and copes just fine; if having a vaccine significantly weakened your average person's immune system to make your vulnerable to other illnesses, the same would be true any time you came down with a minor cold or suchlike that it had to fight off, and that's obviously not the case (we don't all come down with everything under the sun when we get a cold for example because our immune system is 'busy' fighting the cold).

To Mr 'Brainy-Trainspotter' (!)... Thank You Much for writing that, l mean that, of course. But I do wonder if my explanation of what was misunderstood was understood, however...

...Separately, There was already another Thread awhile back, addressing the topic of "needles" and so I did not want to (myself) start that over again... being misunderstood once per Thread is bad enough for myself...!     Stay Well, all.

To Mr 'Brainy-Trainspotter' (!)... Thank You Much for writing that, l mean that, of course. But I do wonder if my explanation of what was misunderstood was understood, however...

...Separately, There was already another Thread awhile back, addressing the topic of "needles" and so I did not want to (myself) start that over again... being misunderstood once per Thread is bad enough for myself...!     Stay Well, all.