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[Katherine]

Dear ladies,

I've never had a flu vaccine but have been invited for one due to having asthma even though I'm 49, but I feel to anxious to have one. Ever since I've heard of so many people having serious health issues after taking the covid jab. I'm all for vaccines in general but scared it will make me ill or have unknown effects on my health, due to the vaccine changing every year i.e. it's not a new vaccine but it keeps changing for new strains.

Has anyone here with asthma had the flu with or without a vaccine and how did you feel? I've heard of people feeling horrendous after having the flu vaccine personally and online and others having no effects. It's all so confusing. I did fight off covid without a vaccine but that was in 2022 when the virus had weakened.

When I look back to childhood I had most of the vaccines and never thought anything of it, it was just what you did, but these days I've become scared of them. I'm asking as many people as I can about personal experience to help me make a decision.

[Rabbit1977]

Hi

I'm 48 and also have asthma so get invited to have the flu jab annually by my doctor. I have it without fail each year. Some years I have experienced an aching arm for about 12 hours afterwards, other years (like this year) absolutely nothing. For me, the impact of catching flu and having it causing weeks of illness with asthma, chest infections and feeling dreadful far outweighs having the jab. At the moment, I get a sore throat, it develops into a chest infection and I end up in hospital. I can't begin to imagine what would happen if I caught the flu.
I understand the potential fear of having vaccines based on stories of people who were incredibly ill following their covid jab....but this is just a minority given the number of people who had the vaccines in total and who had no serious complications.
For me it comes down to the fact that flu can kill people with serious underlying conditions like asthma...whereas the number of people who are made seriously ill by having the vaccine itself is negligeable. This year is supposed to be exceptionally bad with this particular strain.
 Good luck with your decision.

[sheila99]

I'd encourage you to take it. They offer it to you because the consequences of getting flu are far more serious for you than for those without asthma. The flu jab has been around for years and millions of older, vulnerable people take it each year, it's just tweaked each year for the particular strain of flu that's around this year. I think this year there's more of it about and that's why the NHS is making more of an effort to get vulnerable people protected.

[Aprilflower]

I don't have asthma, but my sister does.  She has always had the flu vac, as have I.

It's been in use for decades and I've never heard anything terrible about it.

[Katherine]

I am definitely thinking about having it, thanks ladies for your replies. I've been trying to figure out if I've had it already this September. I had a fever, fatigue, headache, mucus cough (and severe breathing difficulties during the night at one point - I have a throat condition too that makes me have throat spasms and difficulty breathing in), chest infection - all flu symptoms - but it came on gradually over a number of days (whereas flu apparently has sudden onset).

I think I will eventually pluck up the courage to have the vaccine, as I've been avoiding crowded places like trains which is very restrictive as I don't drive. If anyone has any more thoughts on this feel free to tell me - the more info I have the better.

[Eliphanty]

Hi Katherine
I don’t have asthma but I do get the flu jab every year. The only side effect I have ever had is a mildly aching arm that has gone by the next day. I have not had the flu since I started getting the jab - had it twice before that.
I really hope you decide to get the jab. It is a great way to help protect yourself from more serious complications - especially because that might be compounded because of your asthma. Then hopefully you will also feel more confident because you know you have done what you can to reduce your risk.
Also if you decide to make it an annual event then think about having it late September/October so you are protected before flu season gets going.

[Ayesha]

I remember last year the hospitals were full of patients with flu who didn't get vaccinated and it seems the hospitals are full again with a much stronger strain of the virus. Definitely worth getting the vaccine, even if you get the flu at least you have a better chance of not ending up in hospital.

[Jules]

I haven't got asthma but I have ME and have had the flu vaccine for 25 years and never had a problem. I'd had flu when I was younger and it was horrible, I ended up with bronchitis. I'd always have the flu jab.  I stopped having the covid vaccine after the 3rd one though. My son has asthma and won't have a flu vaccination. 

[CLKD]

I had a sudden attack of 'flu in March 1988 and again exactly 12 months later.  Vaccines weren't offered then. Until Covid when vaccinations was encouraged, I hadn't bothered with getting a jab, however due to not being in the age group of the Covid Vac this year, I opted for the 'flu one instead. 

Any1 who 'walks around with 'flu' doesn't have it!  When I woke that 1st time I couldn't open my eyes as the light was too bright; I didn't think that I was running a temperature, however; I could hardly move, DH had to lift/carry me to the bathroom.  My large joints ached, fortunately not all at the same time: Knees, hips, ankles, shoulders.  12 months later when I woke I knew what it was. Both nights I had gone to bed feeling OK!

Yes occasionally people will react to vaccines.  This is a personal choice to have/not, but 'flu can be awful for any1 health compromised. 

[Jules]

That's the year I had it. Started Christmas Day 1988. Everybody was catching it. Definitely you aren't walking round or back at work after a couple of days.

[Katherine]

In September I wasn’t bed bound most of the time but walking to the doctors 10 minutes down the road felt like climbing a mountain and I had a temperature of 38.2, headache, mucus cough, eventually a chest infection but no runny nose or much of a sore throat. And it came on over a few days. It didn’t feel like a cold. COVID tests were negative. I’d love to know what it was but the doctor just gave me a stronger inhaler and told me to take paracetamol to reduce my temperature.

[CLKD]

A SARS Virus probably. 

[Aprilflower]

In September I wasn’t bed bound most of the time but walking to the doctors 10 minutes down the road felt like climbing a mountain and I had a temperature of 38.2, headache, mucus cough, eventually a chest infection but no runny nose or much of a sore throat. And it came on over a few days. It didn’t feel like a cold. COVID tests were negative. I’d love to know what it was but the doctor just gave me a stronger inhaler and told me to take paracetamol to reduce my temperature.

Flu comes on very fast.  It's like hitting a brick wall.

It could have been, what I call, a fluey cold.  In other words, a very bad cold.

[Old Frumpy]

I have asthma and have flu vaccine yearly.  Sometimes have sniffles for couple days but that all.  It is 2- 3weeks to build up your imnunity to the vaccine, so I would get it asap.

For me the choice is easy to make.  I hate steriods and as I have asthma the steriods come with antibotics and as I have aged I find I don't tolerate drugs like I used too

[Katherine]

In September I wasn’t bed bound most of the time but walking to the doctors 10 minutes down the road felt like climbing a mountain and I had a temperature of 38.2, headache, mucus cough, eventually a chest infection but no runny nose or much of a sore throat. And it came on over a few days. It didn’t feel like a cold. COVID tests were negative. I’d love to know what it was but the doctor just gave me a stronger inhaler and told me to take paracetamol to reduce my temperature.

Flu comes on very fast.  It's like hitting a brick wall.

It could have been, what I call, a fluey cold.  In other words, a very bad cold.

My Mum said that it could've been a very bad cold too.