After an experience I had several years ago I will never have another flu jab. There was no doubt as to what the cause was as the site of the jab came up in a hard lump and I had the worst case of flu ever. To add to that it badly affected the shoulder muscle (the site of the injection) and I had difficulty putting on a jacket for months afterwards. The muscle remains affected but is no longer as bad as it was.
Though strictly the flu vaccine cannot give you flu, the truth is that everyone’s flu symptoms are caused by your immune system’s reaction and the jab is intended to challenge your immune system.
Before that experience ironically my GP had been declining my requests for a jab though I had previously had kidney cancer. It made me very ill but because I felt it was my own fault for pressing so hard for it, I couldn’t go to my GP, though I did have to be referred to the hospital over the effect it had on my shoulder.
Though I had declined a flu jab this year verbally I was surprised to discover that I had an appointment set for me which I cancelled. Funnily enough I actually had flu at the time and I dread to think how my body would react to the vaccine on top of it.
I’d have the vaccination if I hadn’t previously had such a bad experience. As I had my blood test at the height of the virus it’ll be interesting to see what the results are this time.
