General Chat

This year I chose to have the flu jab.

I have only ever had two. I suffered no effects from the first jab but after the second jab I had a runny nose right through the winter which I hated. Because of this and because the only time I have ever had the flu was almost 60 years ago, it was my decision to do without the flu jab for the last 14 years.

This year, though, because of the cv I thought I would have it. It's been about 3/4 weeks since I had it and I've had no ill effects from it. (Edit: so far!)

E dry year I approach the surgery during the first week in September to see if they have started their listings for the flu jab. Sometimes they haven’t. This year my OH had a text in August telling him to make an appointment. We made the appointment for O rover, later than usual. A couple of weeks after making the appointment I got a letter telling me I really ought to have one. The first ‘reminder’ for over 10 years.

I can understand why you got a reminder, names. I think any doctor worth his salt will make an effort to ensure that his more senior patients and all with health problems have the flu jab this year .

Usually, ours rings OH to make an appointment. This year was different as, once I decided to have it and a friend told me that the jabs were in, I rang and made the appointment for OH and me.

Our GP did away with appointments several years ago. The dates are advertised and anyone who wants one turns up. We have to wait around, but usually see someone we haven't seen for ages, so time passes quite quickly.

This year all the info was on the website with a request not to ring the surgery. If we were due a jab they would ring us - which they did, back in October.

Flu jab days at our surgery are always on Saturdays and appointments are made for every 2 minutes or so, so we are spread through the morning.

An older friend has one of those surgeries where you all just turn up. If she finds out the day (no internet) she could go but got fed up with standing outside in all weathers. so she usually goes to the local chemist. They have also never contacted her about the jab - she also was not offered the shingles jab - so hasn't had it. ( now over 80).

If we had to stand outside I probably wouldn't bother either, but we all sit in the waiting room, and when all the chairs are full we stand around. There are about a dozen nurses etc doing them, so we don't have too long to wait.

This year our surgery made jabs by appointment only. OH and I went in together, the only two in the surgery. We exited by the back door where people wait for sister etc - and only one person waiting whom we did not have to go near.

It was a very good set up - and still stringent conditions.