Are you going to get the swine flu jab??

LegacyUser

Hi OP here,

I've been reading what you've all had to say on the matter which has been interesting. I was at my GP there the other day with a chest infection and in his opinion I didn't need it.

I was a bit suprised at this to be honest! Like it's not that long ago since I've been in hospital on a drip for a viral illness and now a chest infection and the winter hasn't began yet!!

So I'm even further back than I was before. I was considering getting a second opinion but I don't know!

mrpants

ElBarco wrote: »

It hasn't been tested enough in your opinion.
What I did was talk to my doctor.

sure everybody has their right to make their own decision and if you feel your doc is putting you on the right path then go with it. I'm not here to tell people what to do but only responding to the tread.

mike65

Job done. Now to see what reaction occurs, if any.

CathyMoran

mrpants wrote: »

sure everybody has their right to make their own decision and if you feel your doc is putting you on the right path then go with it. I'm not here to tell people what to do but only responding to the tread.

Im pregnant too and I felt that the risk of getting swine flu far outweighed any potential risk from the vaccine but in the end it is up to you to make an educated decision.

SQ80

Hi all, I have crohns disease and am on immunospressant drugs but dont know whether to get the vaccine or not. I spoke to my GP about 2 weeks ago and he gave me a yes/no answer about getting it. So today i decided to phone my consultant and spoke to his secretary (hes away at moment). Any bottom line is that neither of them appear to be backing the vaccine 100% and are suggesting its something i need to decide for myself.

Any one else come across this problem?

CathyMoran

SQ80 wrote: »

Hi all, I have crohns disease and am on immunospressant drugs but dont know whether to get the vaccine or not. I spoke to my GP about 2 weeks ago and he gave me a yes/no answer about getting it. So today i decided to phone my consultant and spoke to his secretary (hes away at moment). Any bottom line is that neither of them appear to be backing the vaccine 100% and are suggesting its something i need to decide for myself.

Any one else come across this problem?

My husband also has crohns, is on immunosupression but his GP agreed to give it to him (will ask him when he gets back about his wonderful consultant)..I also got it as I am in multiple risk groups. Will get him to post in a few minutes!

The_Conductor

SQ80 wrote: »

Hi all, I have crohns disease and am on immunospressant drugs but dont know whether to get the vaccine or not. I spoke to my GP about 2 weeks ago and he gave me a yes/no answer about getting it. So today i decided to phone my consultant and spoke to his secretary (hes away at moment). Any bottom line is that neither of them appear to be backing the vaccine 100% and are suggesting its something i need to decide for myself.

Any one else come across this problem?

Hi- I also have Crohn's Disease and am on Imuran. I was actively encouraged by my consultant to consider getting the regular flu vaccine, and then the H1N1 vaccine. I don't work in an area where I have many dealings with the public- but some of my colleagues have contracted swine flu already. I am very vunerable to anything going around- because of the immune supressants I'm on- and don't see why I should put myself at greater risk than necessary.

The_Conductor

mrpants wrote: »

I wont be getting it and either will my pregnent wife till we see how it pans out. it hasnt been tested enough to give to pregnent women.

Why do you say it hasn't been tested enough to give to pregnant women? The maternity hospitals are actively encouraging all pregnant women post week 14 get themselves vaccinated, and Holles Street are giving the vaccine themselves. They are also suggesting pregnant women get the regular vaccine too.....

The H1N1 vaccine is being given to pregnant women in most jurisdictions that initiated vaccine programmes- where are you coming from suggesting that it hasn't been tested enough to give to pregnant women? Do you have any proper scientific research to back your contention?

robinph

smccarrick wrote: »

Do you have any proper scientific research to back your contention?

There is not any more scientific research to suggest that it does work though. The H1N1 has only been around affecting humans for less than a year, and the vaccine is only out a month or so.

Not saying that is doesn't work, just there is nothing much to say that it does either.

SQ80

Thanks smccarrick & CathyMoran.

I dont deal with the public but am still worried about catching it especially when there are people around me in work that are coughing and sneezing. I have never had the normal flu jab - luckily ive never had the flu! I suppose im a bit worried about the side effects - more so the long term ones which i know we arent really going to know about now.

A few weeks ago i was definitely going to get the jab but since my doc and consultants secretary are not telling me to definitely get it im beginning to wonder why....

Suppose ill just wait for another 2 weeks and ask my consultant himself and see what he has to say

notuslimited

When you go for the jab...what questions are asked on the forms which have to be filled in?

Kelda09

notuslimited wrote: »

When you go for the jab...what questions are asked on the forms which have to be filled in?

You get two forms to be filled in, One with general info, age address etc, medical condition so on, not much too it at all. Second form is consent form. Age, address, any allergies, if youve had any serious illnesses recently, GP's name and address, What medication your on, couple of other questions like that, not sure of the exact questions.

All in all filling out the forms only takes a couple of minutes and the nurse goes through it when you go in anyway. Thats what happened with me anyway today at the hospital, not sure bout geting it from a GP. I had no adverse reaction so far, arm slightly red for a while but no pain or swelling so hope all goes as smoothly for you if your getting it done. :)

Hope this helps....

tbh

getting mine tomorrow..

mike65

17 hours later I'm showing no signs of a reaction.

24 hours later I'm showing no signs of a reaction.

48 hours later I'm showing no signs of a reaction apart from a slight pain at the injection site

Kelda09

mike65 wrote: »

17 hours later I'm showing no signs of a reaction.

24 hours later I'm showing no signs of a reaction.

Think we should set up a reaction alert!!! Ditto for me, so far so good, although Im at 32 hours..... D'ya think im safe

DrIndy

robinph wrote: »

There is not any more scientific research to suggest that it does work though. The H1N1 has only been around affecting humans for less than a year, and the vaccine is only out a month or so.

Not saying that is doesn't work, just there is nothing much to say that it does either.

Remember H1N1 is NOT a new brand new totally different superbug like SARS was.

It is just a new flu which has not been circulating in the population for a long, long time in this particular mix. Most Flus going around have either had their H antigen or N antigen either recently floating by or vaccinated against. This is a new H and a new N so no longer are we "half immune" as normal - but totally vulnerable. It does take down young people by sheer bad luck - but would you like to be that person who dies or is on a ventilator for 2 weeks in ICU?

The flu vaccine is not a new vaccine - just the same old humdrum yearly flu vaccine - expect in this case, it contains the H1N1 antigens as well as the other ones normally added every year. It is NOT a new superbug, it is NOT a new vaccine.

I have had the jab - no reaction at all. The injection site was only sore if I poked it (which I did a few times because I thought it felt kinda weird and cool!)

biomed32

DrIndy wrote: »

Remember H1N1 is NOT a new brand new totally different superbug like SARS was.

It is just a new flu which has not been circulating in the population for a long, long time in this particular mix. Most Flus going around have either had their H antigen or N antigen either recently floating by or vaccinated against. This is a new H and a new N so no longer are we "half immune" as normal - but totally vulnerable. It does take down young people by sheer bad luck - but would you like to be that person who dies or is on a ventilator for 2 weeks in ICU?

The flu vaccine is not a new vaccine - just the same old humdrum yearly flu vaccine - expect in this case, it contains the H1N1 antigens as well as the other ones normally added every year. It is NOT a new superbug, it is NOT a new vaccine.

I have had the jab - no reaction at all. The injection site was only sore if I poked it (which I did a few times because I thought it felt kinda weird and cool!)

I am currently doing biomed in maynooth and am in my final year, i totally agree with your statement there in that swine flu is the same as any other flu. it is the media hype that has turned it into something more then it really is and as a result the ensuing panic and that.

i feel people and the general public must understand that even though there are an unusually higher number of flu cases the same people at risk or in the at risk group were always in the at risk group. many people each year in this group die from the flu each year anyway as bland as i have put it, its just never released in the press or otherwise.

as an end note i dont mean to offend anyone but to mearly give my opinion on what i know:)

Lollipops23

Hey all, got the jab last monday; i suffer from chronic asthma so was told i am "high-risk".

Felt a bit rough for the 24hrs afterwards and my arm is still a bit tender.

Have to go back in 2 weeks for the booster shot.

Think that anyone in a high-risk category really should get the jab; it's free and takes literally 10mins. All this rubbish about the mercury traces, seriously, how paranoid do you need to be?!

robinph

DrIndy wrote: »

IT IS THE REGULAR FLU VACCINE!

...and seeing as I've not bothered with the previous ones for the last couple of years there is no particular reason for me to change my mind this time round.



Just out of interest though, from what you were saying you seemed to be suggesting that the flu jab each year was ... erm, can't think of the word ... backwards compatible(?). So each previous guess of one years version of flu is added to the jab for the next year, so the 2009 version also has the 2008 version and 2007 versions etc, in it as well.

If so then it sounds like you may actually better off getting it each year so that you only have one new strain to learn each time round, rather than getting it once it's got X number of variations of the antibodies for you to learn to deal with. Or have I got the wrong end of that stick and it is only actually one version in the vaccine each year that they think is going to be the prevalent strain that winter?

LadyMayBelle

Getting mine next week as I'm in the second mass batch (healthcare staff). The boyf got it today, so far just feeling a little off and sore at injection site too.

kerchow

I totally agree with Biomed32. I think it has been over hyped by the media, something new to report. The normal flu kills loads every year. Am having a discussion with some family about getting this jab, I really don't see the point in getting this flu jab as I don't get the other jab any other year. I have bad asthma and work in education but really do not feel the need but they see the reports on TV and think something bad will happen. If the TV and paers etc were to report on the deaths from the 'normal' flu they would fill many news bulletins. My own opinion and am not saying people should not get it. If it gives you peace of mind I am all for that.

Jako8

I wonder should I get it?

I have asthma but someone said that people who are allergic to raw eggs cant get it. I'm allergic to raw eggs

Should I get it?

sam34

Jako8 wrote: »

I wonder should I get it?

I have asthma but someone said that people who are allergic to raw eggs cant get it. I'm allergic to raw eggs

Should I get it?

ask your doctor rather than randomers off teh internet

LionelNashe

biomed32 wrote: »

......the same people at risk or in the at risk group were always in the at risk group. many people each year in this group die from the flu each year ......

kerchow wrote: »

...... The normal flu kills loads every year. ......If the TV and paers etc were to report on the deaths from the 'normal' flu they would fill many news bulletins.....

I think that these are good reasons for the 'at-risk' groups to get the jab, considering that there is this risk from the flu, and much less risk from the jab itself. Also, the vaccine and its administration are free for everyone.

CathyMoran

Jako8 wrote: »

I wonder should I get it?

I have asthma but someone said that people who are allergic to raw eggs cant get it. I'm allergic to raw eggs

Should I get it?

There is a version available for those who are allergic to eggs. I close relative of mine who is astmatic and also has a very severe egg allergy had not problems whatsoever with the egg free version of the vaccine...in the end of the day you should seek medical advice.

lucernarian

You'd need to find out (off the doctor or off GSK's information on it) whether the vaccine is suitable for those with egg allergies. I don't know what the story is with the H1N1 vaccine. Hopefully there is an albumen-protein-free vaccine for you like the type CathyMorgan reffered to.

Firetrap

I got the jab because I'm asthmatic and frequently run into difficulties when I catch the humble cold. So far so good - no pain/sore arm/sickness.

mike65

The arm will get sore after about 24-36 hours and last another 24-36 hours (just try not to lie on it in bed), mine has gone over about 6/8 hours today.

I got it on Thursday morning. Arm is still very sore. It's like a huge patch of redness and it's swollen. My brother got it too and he was grand after it. Ah I reckon it will be fine by tomorrow. Hopefully!

Wyyldfairy

Hi all- im a 22 year old who works with young kids ina school all day at the moment . (im in college still). Im also a very severe asthmatic and have already been in hospital twice this year with asthma etc. My GP does NOT want me to get the swine flu jab at all because my immune system is so low and its a rather important year for me college wise. My respiratory conusltant tells me i HAVE to get it. any thoughts or ideas or advice on what i should do??
Thanks

mike65

Do as your doctor advises. We're not qualified to say otherwise.

sam34

Wyyldfairy wrote: »

Hi all- im a 22 year old who works with young kids ina school all day at the moment . (im in college still). Im also a very severe asthmatic and have already been in hospital twice this year with asthma etc. My GP does NOT want me to get the swine flu jab at all because my immune system is so low and its a rather important year for me college wise. My respiratory conusltant tells me i HAVE to get it. any thoughts or ideas or advice on what i should do??
Thanks

ask your GP and consultant to discuss teh issue between them.

LionelNashe

Wyyldfairy wrote: »

Hi all- im a 22 year old who works with young kids in a school all day at the moment . (im in college still). Im also a very severe asthmatic and have already been in hospital twice this year with asthma etc. My GP does NOT want me to get the swine flu jab at all because my immune system is so low and its a rather important year for me college wise. My respiratory consultant tells me i HAVE to get it. any thoughts or ideas or advice on what i should do??
Thanks

mike65 wrote: »

Do as your doctor advises. We're not qualified to say otherwise.

Hmm..that's hardly helpful, considering that the two doctors are giving conflicting advice. What to do if two doctors give conflicting advice? Get a third opinion, or ask the doctors to get their heads together? Or ask yourself which one do you have the most reason to trust?

According to the HSE website, you are in the at-risk group if you have asthma, or immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment). In your situation I would be asking the GP to clarify why a low immune system is a reason not to get the vaccine in your case.

mike65

That doesn't change what I said - you can't just dip into a message board to get a second opinion on a potentially very significant matter. It could be the wrong and fatal opinion, as no one here as a clue about the history of someone on the net.

robinph

mike65 wrote: »

That doesn't change what I said - you can't just dip into a message board to get a second opinion on a potentially very significant matter. It could be the wrong and fatal opinion, as no one here as a clue about the history of someone on the net.

But you can dip into a message board to try and figure out how to get a useful answer from the pair of conflicting medical professionals opinions.

As LionelNashe said, ask them their reasons for saying either yes or no to it and tell them what the other guy said. See if one changes their mind.

sam34

LionelNashe wrote: »

Hmm..that's hardly helpful, considering that the two doctors are giving conflicting advice. What to do if two doctors give conflicting advice?

randomers off the internet giving advice based on the little information posted by the OP and a lack of medical training is much less helpful, (and indeed is potentially dangerous) than mike65's suggestion.

ask teh gp and consultant to discuss your case together. it would only require a phonecall.

robinph

sam34 wrote: »

randomers off the internet giving advice based on the little information posted by the OP and a lack of medical training is much less helpful, (and indeed is potentially dangerous) than mike65's suggestion.

ask teh gp and consultant to discuss your case together. it would only require a phonecall.

Mike65's suggestion seemed to be backing up one medical professionals opinion over another's though from how I read that comment. LionelNashe was just saying to get the pair of them to explain themselves better and their reasons.



If you don't understand what any medical professional is telling you then ask them again to explain it better.

mike65

That wasn't intended (truth is I missed the reference to the specailist, thanks God I'm not a doctor eh?), and my point about getting a third POV from the likes of us still stands. I'd go back to the Doc and if he/she remains adamant, tries to get Doctor and Consultant to talk.

ProjectColossus

I got it on Friday (Diabetic T1), remarkably painless compared to other shots I've gotten in the arm. No side effects.

lucernarian

I agree with robinph. Simply saying talk to your doctor when someone has clearly done so, is unhelpful. I'm not sure why Sam34 took issue with that comment, as I don't recall LionelRichie giving out anything remotely like medical advice.

How in all honesty could someone looking to see what to do with two doctors giving confilicting opinions, be treated as looking for treatment advice?? A bit of common sense would go a long way.

OT: I'm getting the vacconation tomorrow. Hopefully it won't make me feel ill when I'm abroad...

sam34

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

I agree with robinph. Simply saying talk to your doctor when someone has clearly done so, is unhelpful. I'm not sure why Sam34 took issue with that comment, as I don't recall LionelRichie giving out anything remotely like medical advice.

How in all honesty could someone looking to see what to do with two doctors giving confilicting opinions, be treated as looking for treatment advice?? A bit of common sense would go a long way

the pposter gave their own medical history and then asked what they should do... looks like a request for medical advice to me.

Wyyldfairy wrote: »

any thoughts or ideas or advice on what i should do??

and i think taking medical advice form peopel on the internet is a very dangerous thing to do.

how could mike65 have been any more helpful, without straying into medical advice territory??

lucernarian

Medical history? His problem was 2 doctors giving conflicting advice (which was the bit you left out of the quote). I think it's reasonable to hear a way of dealing with that.

Getting the two doctors to talk to each other is a productive suggestion that hardly counts as "medical advice" as per its legal status.

Saying to "talk to your doctor" is condescending to a poster who has clearly done that and is wondering where to go from there.

It was quite easy to help the poster without giving medical advice. You made a good suggestion too in this regard! I take issue with mike65's self-imposed judgement on the matter.

Do you see, it's sort-of irrelevant in this case if the poster is asking for medical advice. The mods can look after charter issues, I won't go into it. But surely any poster can withold any medical advice and then simply offer a common sense suggestion to help someone receive the correct advice? Parroting "don't look for medical advice here" was less than unhelpful in this situation and it was up to the mods to decide that aswell.

mike65

As you may have seen I've clarified my own earlier post, meanwhile on 'post-jab watch', the red rash has all but gone (got injection on Wednesday)..

mp22

Got the flu jab last Friday gp says be back next Thursday for swine flu jab,should be fun.

sam34

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

Medical history? .

yep, the poster gave their medical history as an intro to the post:

Wyyldfairy wrote: »

im a 22 year old...Im also a very severe asthmatic and have already been in hospital twice this year with asthma etc... my immune system is so low

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

Do you see, it's sort-of irrelevant in this case if the poster is asking for medical advice. The mods can look after charter issues, I won't go into it. But surely any poster can withold any medical advice and then simply offer a common sense suggestion to help someone receive the correct advice? Parroting "don't look for medical advice here" was less than unhelpful in this situation and it was up to the mods to decide that aswell.

i have no issue with common sense suggestions, as you call them. however, it wasnt clear if thats what the poster wanted. it was his/her first post, so they may not be familiar with the charter.

some people, in fact a lot of people, think it's OK to look for medical advice on the internet. i delete loads of threads on the medicine forum that are looking for medical advice. despite the fact that we have a big sticky on the first page, people still go ahead and post.

again, the poster in this case, being new, may not have been familiar with the charter, and/or may be one of those people who think taking medical advice off the internet is a safe option.

telling them otherwise is helpful in general, and for the future.

thats all i was trying to get across.

Miss Lockhart

Wyyldfairy wrote: »

Hi all- im a 22 year old who works with young kids ina school all day at the moment . (im in college still). Im also a very severe asthmatic and have already been in hospital twice this year with asthma etc. My GP does NOT want me to get the swine flu jab at all because my immune system is so low and its a rather important year for me college wise. My respiratory conusltant tells me i HAVE to get it. any thoughts or ideas or advice on what i should do??
Thanks

Just to be clear - this is NOT an attempt to look for medical advice but I thought I would share my experience as it is sort of similar.

I have a particular problem with my heart but my GP said he could not give me the vaccine as this problem did not fit HSE criteria for the high risk groups. Fair enough - I was happy enough with that advice.

However, at a subsequent apointment my cardiologist told me I HAVE to get it so I explained the situation regarding my GP.

As others have suggested here, it was decided the two doctors should discuss the issue - my cardiologist offered to phone my GP. The outcome of this phonecall was that my GP stuck by his stance that I don't fit HSE criteria. So, my cardiologist is sending out a letter detailing my condition to bring to a vaccination clinic with me instead, as he really wants me vaccinated.

I totally understand your frustration here with the conflicting advice, and also especially the confusion for expectant parents - with many GPs advising against while maternity hospitals support vaccination.

irish_bob

i suffer from asthma so i fell into one of the at risk categorys so i went to my local hospital last tuesday , guess what , everyone showed up regardless of whether they were in the at risk category , i asked the nurse who adminstered my vaccination and she confirmed as much , we cant exactly turn them away she said

The_Conductor

irish_bob wrote: »

i suffer from asthma so i fell into one of the at risk categorys so i went to my local hospital last tuesday , guess what , everyone showed up regardless of whether they were in the at risk category , i asked the nurse who adminstered my vaccination and she confirmed as much , we cant exactly turn them away she said

Happily it appears that supplies of the vaccine are more readily available than we were originally lead to believe. Either that- or else there are shocking numbers of people who really should be getting vaccinated, who are avoiding the vaccine, because of the media circus over it........

KiLLeR CoUCh

Got the vaccine on Monday. My arm is still a little tender and have the sniffles, but that might not be related =P

deisemum

I'm booked in to get it tomorrow.