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The media have always had the scaremongering 'tool' as an option for selling their products. The Daily M and Daily E are two news papers who have almost made scaremongering an art form.
The TV channels are not much better either.
Intersting Bri, I had one 3 years ago and felt rotten afterwards with aching joints and bad head, which the Doc said couldn't be linked to the jab. (This lasted for around 3 months)
Didn't have it in the intervening years and no such problems occured
This year I agreed to have one after much pressure (+ the pneumonia jab) and experience the same rotten after effects
I guess its in the nature of mass medication, the 0.001% or so of people with side effects are judged to be a worthwhile price to pay to protect the rest (and the information has to be "adjusted" to dispute any side effects)
When the flu jab first became available, donkeys years ago, I took a punt and had the worst bout of flu that I've ever experienced.
This put me off, but flu does get more dangerous as we get older. It used to be lethal because the 1919 epidemic killed more people than the Great War.
The company I'm contracted to offers it to every employee or consultant, I have had it for the last 3 or 4 years but the majority don't bother with it.
I've only had proper flu about ten years ago, it was totally debilitating and I couldn't even find the energy to get out of bed for nearly a week so I have the jab to hopefully prevent an occurrence like that. I only get paid for the days I work so it makes perfect sense to me to have the jab if it is offered, I don't have any side effects with it either.
JP
Quote: flu does get more dangerous as we get older. It used to be lethal because the 1919 epidemic killed more people than the Great War
usually older people are more vulnerable, but that particular strain killed mainly healthy young people.
Quote: and people are having to return up to 3 times for treatment for the same viral infections.
Flu vaccines are manufactured a season ahead to give the pharmaceutical companies time to build up stocks: so for example, in mid this year the World Health Organisation will look at flu patterns across the globe and try to predict which strain will predominate next year. The pharmceutical companies then start to manufacture the vaccines in time for winter 2013 vaccine programme. This works most years but as you can imagine sometimes they get it wrong (maybe they selected the wrong strain or maybe multiple strains come at the same time) and they have to switch their manufacturing and call patients back in for another vaccination.
Quote: When the flu jab first became available, donkeys years ago, I took a punt and had the worst bout of flu that I've ever experienced.
That is not uncommon - flu symptoms is a well-recognised side effect of flu vaccines. It varies between indiviudals and between strains - a person may get side effects some years and not others.
Quote: That is not uncommon - flu symptoms is a well-recognised side effect of flu vaccines. It varies between indiviudals and between strains - a person may get side effects some years and not others.
But it won't be flu. This is what the NHS say on the subject:-
The flu jab gives you flu
A complete myth! The vaccine is not full of live flu bugs but instead contains inactive flu viruses. This means
that you won’t catch flu from the vaccine, but your body can still recognise the virus and that helps you fight
it off if you get it for real. If you experience symptoms such as a sore arm or achiness for a day or so after
getting the jab, that can be a sign your immune system is responding and the jab is working.
At a party at the weekend, several virologists at it from the local university. All had the flu jab, all got the flu quite badly, it had mutated and the jab didn't work. They shrugged their shoulders and accepted that that happens sometimes. So even with the jab it might not work.
Yes, I've quite a few older vulnerable relatives - and if my body can kill the actual flu virus before i see them then i can't easily pass it on. 
I'm another that gets it via their company, but I normally help organise a trip down to Boots for others around me - its not expensive compared to the potential consequences. This year we organised it too late and quite a few of them were quite sick with Flu, but not me (smug/guilty). Next year less faffing around.
Yes one year i did feel rough after the jab but normally i don't and can't see a medical reason for the link to feeling bad anyway.
I had flu once years back - not nice! If you can get a shot for you and for those around you.
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