Flu jab

[Turnedlight]

I didn't take up the flu jab when I was on mtx but now I'm on Humira I'm feeling the pressure to conform.. However I know more than one person who gave the flu jab a go for a couple of years, and were very poorly after. One ended up on very specific unpleasant antibiotics to clear a chest infection which began straight after and would not go away.

Now, don't shout me down, I have biology a level and I understand that the jab is not a live vaccine so you can't catch the flu from the jab. But this doesn't help explain the anecdotes which have put me off.

So, I thought I'd have a look on the nhs website to see what ingredients are in it, and was surprised by the number of people who say they were ill straight after and many said it left their arm weak and painful for a long time. I have booked myself in but I'm not sure I want to go through with it (like all medicines I get given lol)

Who on here does take up the annual flu jab and have you had any issues please?

Manu thanks in advance, and anyone who doesn't read this properly and starts the lecture on how you can't catch flu from the jab is getting deleted

[jiml]

you can't get  
Oh sorry just read it again
Myself and my wife have had the injection for the last 5 years I have it because I am my wife's carer and can't afford to give her the flu, so we both have it
She is on kidney dialysis which we do at home  and her immune system is shot, so has to be very careful as flu would be very dodgy for her

It has never affected either one of us since we have had it,  whether it gives protection I don't know.. It depends if they guess the correct strain of flu to vaccinate against, last year they got it wrong and several people got flu who had been injected

My advice is go for it, most don't have a reaction to it and millions of people have it. You will only hear from the ones that get a reaction ......you will always read the bad stories as people don't post if they don't have a reaction

[mataribot]

It is not uncommon to feel sick after the flu shot; just think about what the shot is suppose to do.

[AmandaL]

I got it for the first Time last year and I'll be honest I felt rubbish for a couple of weeks, but it was more like a slight cold, no other effects apart from that

[jiml]

I got it for the first Time last year and I'll be honest I felt rubbish for a couple of weeks, but it was more like a slight cold, no other effects apart from that

Don't let that put you off Amanda, you would have felt much worse with the flue, and as we have compromised immune system, I think it's a good idea to have it

[AmandaL]

Don't worry I'm not out off I just meant in comparison to actually getting the flu it's really not that bad for a little bit of discomfort

[D Foster]

I have always had the flu jab even when I was on MTX for nine years and I have only had flu once a few years ago but I have never had any problems with the jab itself. I continued with the flu jab on Stelara , just have done my 90mg injection, had no problems at all with side effects etc.

[Turnedlight]

Thanks all, I find it reassuring!

[jiml]

Thanks all, I find it reassuring!

Just booked mine online this morning getting it on the 23rd September

[Caroline]

I have always gotten the immunisation injection and every year I still was a week sick.
Last year I just didn't do it and I did not have the flu.
Can't explain this. In average my immune system seems to be better that that of most of my healthy collegues.