Flu Vaccine

Chest and lungs
1

Its that time of year when those diagnosed with COPD are advised to have the annual flu jab in order to help preserve lung health.  If you've been diagnosed and not heard from your GP surgery give them a call to check when the flu vaccine is available.

Scroll down the page link below to view who should have the flu vaccine:

https://patient.info/health/influenza-and-flu-like-illness

Check 'Before having the influenza vaccine' :

https://patient.info/medicine/influenza-vaccine

Keep in mind those with egg intolerrance will need to make this known to your doctor who can order in an alternative vaccine.

You shouldn't have the vaccine if you have a lung infection are getting over a cold or pneumonia, check with your doctor if its safe for you to have one.

Who shouldn't have the flu jab :

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/who-shouldnt-have-flu-vaccine.aspx

The 2015/2016 flu jab protects again three types of flu virus:

Each year, the viruses that are most likely to cause flu are identified in advance and vaccines are made to match them as closely as possible. The vaccines are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO has announced that the 2015/16 flu vaccine will protect against three types of flu virus:

A/H1N1 – the strain of flu that caused the swine flu pandemic in 2009

A/H3N2 – a strain of flu that can infect birds and mammals and was active in 2011

B/Phuket/3073/2013

The nasal spray flu vaccine offers protection against four strains of virus, as it includes a virus strain that was active in 2008. 

Read more:  

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/pages/flu-influenza-vaccine.aspx

2

Thanks for that Vee,  I am going for mine a week tomorrow.  x

 

3

Hi vee 2, do you know how long the pneumonia jab lasts as I've been told 5years by one copd nurse and 10 years by another?

4

why does my doc insist a yearly flu jab  =  it lasts for one year only ??

5

Yes the flu jab only lasts for 1 year.    You haven't got to have it if you don't want too!  x

6

Well I was told it is a once only affair for most people.  But for those with certain health conditions you have to have another after 5 or 10 years.  x

 

7

Hi Michael, the flu jab is yearly but I was enquiring about the pneumonia jab?

8

Honestly sue19918, i did never know there was an injection against pneumonia honest   good i must have with my COPD  thanks  hun x

9

It's ok Michael, you should ask about it. I didn't know myself until I was given it though.

10

I think it depends, which vaccine the person has.  On NHS choices site regarding the Pneumococcal vaccine it says:

More than 90 different strains of the pneumococcal bacterium have been identified, though only between eight and 10 of them cause the most serious infections.

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That as mentioned above, I am guessing there a different types of vaccine some may last 5 years others 10 years.  Your own doctor or nurse that gave you the vaccine should be able to advise you about the vaccine you received.

The one I had I was told is a one off life time one, but I know that those over 70 who have had and recovered from pneumonia may be offered a booster.

patient uk information on the pneumococcal immunisation may explain further :

https://patient.info/health/pneumococcal-immunisation

 

11

You need to have a flu jab every year, as the antibodies that protect you from flu decline over time, and flu strains can also change from year to year.

 

12

For those that want to learn more about vaccination ingredients, go to NHS Choices site and search:

 Vaccination ingredients

 

13

You may have got confused, michael127  or perhaps you only wanted an answer from Sue.*

 You queried  "why does your doc insist on yearly flu jab" 

* I will refrain from answering you in future when you address another.

Sue11981 queried about pneumonia jab frequency, I answered her separately. 

Apologies accepted

14

Thank you, Vee. Good advice. I just had mine.