Flu jab again

[AlisonM]

I had a call from the surgery yesterday to tell me that the egg-free vaccines are unlikely to be available now until it's time for next year's flu jabs (it takes months to make them from scratch apparently) so they asked would I be willing to have a very low albumen dose under hospital supervision. I hummed and hawed for about 30 seconds before saying, not no, but HELL NO! The mere idea of getting that close to anything with an egg in it purely terrifies me, I am so very allergic to the things. The practice nurse I was speaking to agreed with me and said it was a sensible decision but she had to make the offer. So that's it, no flu jab pour moi.

 

[Caroline]

I hope no viral nasties get you. This level of service is poor to say the least...

 

[AlisonM]

I hope no viral nasties get you. This level of service is poor to say the least...

It's not their fault though that the vaccines were duff. Around 300,000 doses have had to be recalled across Europe and I'd rather take the smaller risk of flu than an almost certain severe reaction to the ordinary jab. My reaction to eggs has almost killed me in the past and is so bad that I'm supposed to carry an epi-pen around with me. I have to figure the odds. What would you do in my place?

 

[Caroline]

Given those sort of odds, I think I'd take the smaller risk of getting flu too.

 

[Robster65]

Sounds like a very sensible decision Alison.

The idea of it is to reduce your risk of being seriously ill. If the vaccine has a higher risk of making you ill, then you have to weigh it up and go for the low risk option.

Stay away from anyone with a hint of a snuffle.😱

Rob

 

[Copepod]

Sounds completely reasonable - giving you the option and information to make an informed decision, then respecting your decision, made on your own risk / benefit analysis.

As others have said, the practice staff didn't cause the vaccine production issues and are trying to work within the situation.

Staying away from others with snuffles is wise, but unfortunately, you're more likely to pick up flu virus from a hard surface not wiped since it was touched by someone with virus on their hands.

 

[KateR]

I agree with you Alison. I think you were very sensible. I had the ordinary version a short time ago and now have the mother of all colds.😡

 

[Jennywren]

It's not their fault though that the vaccines were duff. Around 300,000 doses have had to be recalled across Europe and I'd rather take the smaller risk of flu than an almost certain severe reaction to the ordinary jab. My reaction to eggs has almost killed me in the past and is so bad that I'm supposed to carry an epi-pen around with me. I have to figure the odds. What would you do in my place?

I would have done the same as you and took my chances with a bout of possible flu rather than a severe reaction to the egg , my advice to you is hand sanitiser /gel especially after shopping or travelling on public transport working in a nursery i get through heaps of the stuff 😉

 

[Lilies]

My mother is also egg allergic, she swears by Vicks defence spray you spray up ur nose, any sign of sniffle she's on it and uses it before going anywhere with crowds at this time of year, also vigilant with antibacterial gel... Keeping fingers crossed but something's worked for a number of years x

 

[margie]

Sorry to hear that there will be no suitable vaccination for you this year Alison. I can understand why you wouldn't go for the option offered to you.

Hope you manage to avoid the flu this year.

 

[AlisonM]

Yup, I'll be doing all I can to avoid infections this winter. I always carry an antibacterial gel with me and have some in the office because, well some of the folk we have in aren't maybe as clean as they might be - it's not easy to manage such things when you're homeless as many of our clients are. I wipe the place down every day and it's cleaner than most hospitals. I'll be topping up on Vit C and Zinc and that Vick's spray sounds like a plan.