Flu (and the jab)

[Blah Blah]

Nigello Wrote:

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> Sleep is a good illness preventer (to an extent,

> of course - I am not saying "kip cures all

> ailments"). Longer and darker nights make it

> easier! I am not convinced by the use of vitamins

> and zinc etc, though.

Supplements are harder for the body to digest than from more natural sources like food, sunlight etc etc and research has mixed views on their effectiveness. Some supplements, like fish oil, have better results than others, like iron, which seems to be very difficult to absorb from supplements. As always, a varied diet of non processed foods is the best route to good health. And getting the right amount of sleep (it varies for individuals but 7 hours is the standard need)is also a good route not just to good health but also good mental well being.

Cities are always the bedrock of infectious illness, for obvious reasons. Vitamin C is one of the known vitamins to speed recovery from colds, combined with ginger. Garlic on a regular basis is a great boost to the immune system. But on a cellular level, the nature of a virus is that it has to infiltrate the body before the immune system kicks in to fight it. All that diet does is to ensure that the immune system is as strong as it can be and is ready for the fight. Eating and sleeping well won't stop anyone getting ill, but it will determine how quickly and well someone recovers. And that in turn slows the rate at which other people get infected.

It's worth remembering that whilst we vaccinate against influenza for very good reasons, a good number of elderly people every year go on do develop fatal pnuemonia from common colds and chest infections they caught from interaction with other people. That cold that you shake off after a few days, can be lethal to an elderly person. We all have a responsibility in that sense to make sure we do what we can to minimise the spread of even a common cold.

[Nigello]

I agree with BB. Unless you are totally vital to your work, I think a few days off when you feel ill and are potentially infectious is the right idea. Likewise, making sure you eat and sleep well has to be of benefit to you, those close to you and the wider commumnity.

As for those barbarians out there who do not wash their hands before eating/prepping food and/or having been to the toilet - clean up your act!

[triumph]

The word 'flu' suggests to many people something akin to a rather heavy 'cold'. The truth is that, if you have the 'flu' (ie influenza) you will be very poorly, particularly if you are over 50. It is a very debilitating illness and it is highly unlikely that you would be able to get out of bed, let alone go to work. If the flu jab is available to you I would suggest that it would be very much in one's interests to have it.

[Loz]

Agreed, triumph. I had flu about 10 years ago - I was pretty much completely incapacitated for days. Couldn't eat, could barely drink. Lost half a stone in a week. Can't imagine what it would do to someone vulnerable, healthwise.

[Sue]

Same here, Loz.

And I've just read this:

Amongst other things, it says the current vaccines which target specific strains of flu each year basically don't work on people over 65.

So I needn't have had my jab yesterday :(

Flu vaccine: NHS patients wanted to test 'universal' jab - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41467097

[DulwichFox]

Just had my yearly Diabetes checks...

Had my Flu Jab at the same time.

Over 65's now need to get a Pneumonia Vaccine..

DulwichFox

[Seabag]

Had my flu jab and I've not got the flu & I'm not dead

So good all around.

[nxjen]

I had my flu jab yesterday and was offered a pneumonia jab which is a one off available to over 65s. Has anybody had this? I was told your arm can hurt for up to a month afterwards

[uncleglen]

I have just realised my GP is useless. Which surgery is OFFERING over 65s flu and pneumonia jabs?

[DulwichFox]

uncleglen Wrote:

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> I have just realised my GP is useless. Which

> surgery is OFFERING over 65s flu and pneumonia

> jabs?

Dulwich Medical Centre

Foxy

[spider69]

I went for my flu jab, not mentioned at all and I have diabetes. This at DMC

[DulwichFox]

spider69 Wrote:

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> I went for my flu jab, not mentioned at all and I

> have diabetes. This at DMC

Does only apply to anyone 65 +

Should be flagged up in your records.

DulwichFox

[spider69]

I am 71 and was also due for my diabetic annual check.

[Sue]

The pneumonia jab is not an annual one, apparently. If you are over 65 you just need one, which protects for life.

I wouldn't have thought a surgery should offer it at the same time as a flu jab, in view of the fact that both of them could have side-effects, but then I'm not a medical professional so who knows.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/pneumococcal-vaccination.aspx

[robbin]

Just got back from my jab - ?35 quid is a small price to pay compared to the cost of being off work for a week or two if you get full scale proper flu, not to mention being very ill!

[Loz]

?35?? I think my local chemist does it for a tenner.

[DulwichFox]

How?often is the pneumococcal vaccine given?

Babies receive the pneumococcal vaccine as three separate injections, at 8 weeks, 16 weeks and one year old.

People over 65 only need a single pneumococcal vaccination,?which will protect for life. It is not given annually like the flu jab.

People with a long-term health condition may need just a single one-off pneumococcal vaccination or

five-yearly vaccination, depending on their underlying health problem.

DulwichFox

[Sue]

Yes, Fox, that is copied and pasted from the link I just gave above .....

[DulwichFox]

Sue Wrote:

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> Yes, Fox, that is copied and pasted from the link

> I just gave above .....

Yes. so ?

I'm having the jab in 2 weeks time.. needed to Google it for my own purposes.

Just passed on the information for others to see. Sorry for trying to be helpful.

Fox

[Peckhamrye]

I am at DMC Chadwick Road - initially went for a blood test but they invited me to have a flu jab (I am immunosuppressed) then the nurse checked me out for everything, including asking about the Pneumonia jab - I had it back in 1997 when I had my first transplant and was told never have it again but was very impressed it was there if I needed it. I'm 55. Must say the DMC surgery in Chadwick Road has improved enormously over the last couple of years.

[robbin]

Loz Wrote:

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> ?35?? I think my local chemist does it for a

> tenner.

I know, but it was conveniently close to work (not local) and it was a bit more for the Quadrivalent (4 strain, rather than the usual 3 strain) jab. I think Boots do the basic one for ?12.99.

[TE44]

Hi Robbin, did the chemist advise you to have the

quad vaccine. Was the tri vaccine also beinv administered, I'm curious to know if there is a

different criteria for the triple one other than the price. The quad is ?14 on this link.

https://www.well.co.uk/our-health-services/wellbeing-services/flu-jab-service/

[Nigello]

On the Boots website I found this:

http://www.boots.com/boots-for-business/corporate-flu-jab-service

I do not know whether it is only corporate clients that get the four-strain version. My chemist said that this year's included the Australian strain but I am not clear whether it meant it was in addition to the other three.

[TE44]

http://www.health.gov.au/flureport

The high levels of confirmed flu in Australia have been recognised after "an introduction of rapid testing have contributed in part to this increase"

[robbin]

TE44 Wrote:

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> Hi Robbin, did the chemist advise you to have the

> quad vaccine. Was the tri vaccine also beinv

> administered, I'm curious to know if there is a

> different criteria for the triple one other than

> the price. The quad is ?14 on this link.

>

> https://www.well.co.uk/our-health-services/wellbei

> ng-services/flu-jab-service/

It was a private medical centre that specialises in a drop-in flu-jab service at this time of year. They didn't give me any advice - they just leave it to you to read their website and decide, I think. The fourth strain is a second B strain - I have no idea whether it will in fact give more protection against this year's strains - logically I suppose it should do as there's one more strain covered, but so much is down to pot luck and the experts guessing the main strain correctly (and it not mutating too much). For an extra tenner I thought I'd go for it this year, given the Australian B strain is reported to have been quite widespread. It could, of course be a tenner wasted, but I'll never know, or care.