Question

[Sara Grice]

I am thinking of paying out of pocket to get my flu jab early this year, dont want to have to wait till September and risk getting badly sick and having to worry about keytones ect.

This will be my frist time getting one while diagnosed, I often found that the jab used to always give me like a mild fever, my question is, do you often find that your flu jabes have a effect on your levels?

 

[Lucyr]

I am thinking of paying out of pocket to get my flu jab early this year, dont want to have to wait till September and risk getting badly sick and having to worry about keytones ect.

Why? Flu season is more like October to March not August

 

[Sara Grice]

Why? Flu season is more like October to March not August

I mean my pharmacy was advertising it for aurgust so...you'd have to ask them, it is available and it helps be avoid getting suck badly than I dont see a reason not to get it early

 

[rebrascora]

Not sure I would get it early asI imagine the efficacy may wane as the months go on and I would rather have optimal coverage during the peak of the flu season.

The pharmacies may offer it early for logistical reasons so that they have plenty of availability during peak vaccination season, ie take the strain out of peak season by offering it early rather than it necessarily being beneficial for people to have it early.. That is just a gut feeling on my part with no medical knowledge or research of it. However I don't overly worry about flu or Covid or ketones for that matter.

 

[Inka]

I mean my pharmacy was advertising it for aurgust so...you'd have to ask them, it is available and it helps be avoid getting suck badly than I dont see a reason not to get it early

You won’t get optimal cover over the flu season if you have it early @Sara Grice

Protection lasts about 4 months in adults, I was told. Last year flu was rife in my area in Dec and Jan, so having a vaccine in July/August would mean you’d get little protection.

Here’s what the gov says:

When should you get your flu vaccine?

www.gov.uk

“This year most eligible adults will be offered a flu vaccine from early October, which might be slightly later than in previous years. This is because the latest scientific evidence shows that protection from the flu vaccine decreases over time in adults. It is better to have the vaccine closer to when flu typically circulates”

 

[Inka]

And more information about last year (my bold):

• the season started in the second half of November 2024 with rising influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 activity that peaked just before the start of the new year (2025) and declined after; influenza B activity started in January, leading to a slow decline of overall influenza activity
• overall activity was higher than in the 2023 to 2024 season. Compared to the 2022 to 2023 season the peak was similar in both intensity as well as timing, but the 2024 to 2025 season had a slower overall decline due to the late influenza B activity

Influenza in the UK, annual epidemiological report: winter 2024 to 2025

www.gov.uk

.

 

[Leadinglights]

Immunity lasts about 6 months so if you have the vaccine too early then it will have declined in activity in the peak flu season.

 

[Lucyr]

I mean my pharmacy was advertising it for aurgust so...you'd have to ask them, it is available and it helps be avoid getting suck badly than I dont see a reason not to get it early

The NHS plan the timing of the jabs to minimise illness and hospitalisations due to flu. Pharmacies plan the timing to maximise profits.

 

[Sara Grice]

Ah thanks everyone for all the helpful advice, I've always had the mindset earlier is better, the sooner you protect yourself the better, but yeah I see that that was wrong. Guess I'll wait till my GP starts offering them in September.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I don’t usually get too much fallout from a flu vaccine @Sara Grice

I did have a bit more or a poorly spell once, but that was flu and pneumonia jabs together and then I picked up a bug while my immune system was preoccupied.

Hopefully you can have your standard NHS one, and be well protected during peak season, without having too much of a reaction. Fingers crossed!

 

[silver minion]

I didn't have any noticeable effects on my blood sugars after my flu jab or pneumonia jab last year. I also wait until my doctors contact me. They normally book you in quite quickly once the vaccine rollout starts.

 

[PhoebeC]

I don’t usually get too much fallout from a flu vaccine @Sara Grice

I did have a bit more or a poorly spell once, but that was flu and pneumonia jabs together and then I picked up a bug while my immune system was preoccupied.

Hopefully you can have your standard NHS one, and be well protected during peak season, without having too much of a reaction. Fingers crossed!

Yes, I have never noticed off the flu jab unless I don't feel 100% when have it, or as you say when I had my pneumonia at the same time.

I would hold out if you can, and just avoid people, that's my usual. Anyone says they are ill I avoid 😛

 

[grovesy]

The only time I have every had my Flu vaccine as early as August was during the hight of the pandemic. I have had it in the past as late as December, mostly in between. I have been having for over 20 years.