Flu vaccine

DOD555 · 23-10-2020 11:51pm

Hi all, quick question for anyone in an at risk category who got the flu vaccine from their doctor. Did they charge you? My wife, who is pregnant, just got charged €25 for it. It was an administration fee. But a quick google tells me the doctor gets paid €15 for the administration plus a possible additional €10 (technically €100 for every 10 unique patients). Seems abit cheeky from the doctor unless I’m missing something. Thanks.

Water John · 23-10-2020 11:55pm

I got charged €35 for the jab from the nurse who was also taking my bloods €30 in the practice. In my 60s.

Supercell · 24-10-2020 8:04am

Boots didn't charge me a penny, didn't go to my doctor for this exact reason - the "administration fee" which is a double charge as the government pays them too.

24-10-2020 8:11am

Got mine a few days ago in Hickeys .

I had been in a week earlier to pick up a prescription and they offered it to me !
I’m 60 but in perfect health apart from statins .
They made an appointment for this week and I got it 9am Thursday. Took 3 mins, no side effects.

iamwhoiam · 24-10-2020 9:51am

Got ours on Thursday in O Regan pharmacy , no charge as on the vulnerable list . Only side effect is a sore arm and I had a stinker of a headache yesterday .

Newbie007 · 24-10-2020 4:08pm

I'm pregnant and had an appointment for Tuesday in Boots but they are just after ringing and cancelling it said they were prioritising over 65s. Panicking a little now as I'm an infant teacher and it's coming into the season for bugs, colds and flus

banie01 · 24-10-2020 4:09pm

Newbie007 wrote: »

I'm pregnant and had an appointment for Tuesday in Boots but they are just after ringing and cancelling it said they were prioritising over 65s. Panicking a little now as I'm an infant teacher and it's coming into the season for bugs, colds and flus

Ring boots back and confirm that you are in a high risk category.

r93kaey5p2izun · 24-10-2020 4:28pm

A gp tweeted a letter from HSE yesterday that advised that only over 65 and front line health care workers are to be vaccinated at the moment, then pregnant women and those with an underlying condition only if sufficient stock remains. Apparently just one more delivery of vaccine due to gps, and most wont have enough to cover those outside the top two priority groups.

I am very concerned not to be vaccinated this year. I really don't want to end up in hospital again with flu. I have to hope the social distancing and masks will reduce my chances of catching it. I will be ruthless about refusing deal with clients who wont wear a mask.

Newbie007 · 24-10-2020 5:04pm

banie01 wrote: »

Ring boots back and confirm that you are in a high risk category.

I was speaking with the pharmacist in Boots and she unfortunately only over 65s and medical card holders are being prioritised. I'm not in either groups.

24-10-2020 5:14pm

DOD555 wrote: »

Hi all, quick question for anyone in an at risk category who got the flu vaccine from their doctor. Did they charge you? My wife, who is pregnant, just got charged €25 for it. It was an administration fee. But a quick google tells me the doctor gets paid €15 for the administration plus a possible additional €10 (technically €100 for every 10 unique patients). Seems abit cheeky from the doctor unless I’m missing something. Thanks.

I was always charged €30 from my GP "for the services of the nurse" as I am a non medical card patient. Even when I was highly immune-suppressed on two such drugs simultaneously. One day I was in the surgery with one of the GPs who was at that time attached to the practice and he gave it to me for no additional cost during a consultation for something else, telling me "it's costing me nothing to give it to you here and now".

24-10-2020 5:20pm

Newbie007 wrote: »

I was speaking with the pharmacist in Boots and she unfortunately only over 65s and medical card holders are being prioritised. I'm not in either groups.

The Medical Card holder thing is all wrong. Why should they deserve more or less than anyone else in terms of care being afforded? I can only think it's because the health service calculates that (non-elderly or non-incapacitated) people who are on medical card are more likely to be living unhealthy lifestyles and likelier to succumb to influenza. Otherwise there would be no special merit in prioritising them.

POBox19 · 24-10-2020 6:14pm

Newbie007 wrote: »

I was speaking with the pharmacist in Boots and she unfortunately only over 65s and medical card holders are being prioritised. I'm not in either groups.

Lots of pharmacies are offering the vaccine, phone around. Boots isn't the only game in town. I had to call three places before I got an appointment, none asked my age.

r93kaey5p2izun · 24-10-2020 7:03pm

I have tried every pharmacy, both chain and independent, in the area. No luck. As long ago as early September each one except Boots and McCabes said stock was only for medical card holders.

iamwhoiam · 24-10-2020 7:16pm

Irene Puny Numerology wrote: »

I have tried every pharmacy, both chain and independent, in the area. No luck. As long ago as early September each one except Boots and McCabes said stock was only for medical card holders.

Are you mixing up medical card holders and those on vulnerable list ??
Then three of us this week in our household got it ( all on vulnerable list none have medical card )
It was not in Boots or Mc Cabes

Then a medical card holder could be a strapping healthy 30 year old ? It makes no sense
The HSE have said the supply should be first given to those over 65 and frontline workers so chemist would be wrong to give it to a medical card holder

iamwhoiam · 24-10-2020 7:25pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The Medical Card holder thing is all wrong. Why should they deserve more or less than anyone else in terms of care being afforded? I can only think it's because the health service calculates that (non-elderly or non-incapacitated) people who are on medical card are more likely to be living unhealthy lifestyles and likelier to succumb to influenza. Otherwise there would be no special merit in prioritising them.

Its all wrong , then not all vulnerable have medical cards . For example a Type 1 diabetic would have a green book for free meds but no medical card if they earn over the limit

r93kaey5p2izun · 24-10-2020 7:53pm

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Are you mixing up medical card holders and those on vulnerable list ??
Then three of us this week in our household got it ( all on vulnerable list none have medical card )
It was not in Boots or Mc Cabes

Then a medical card holder could be a strapping healthy 30 year old ? It makes no sense
The HSE have said the supply should be first given to those over 65 and frontline workers so chemist would be wrong to give it to a medical card holder

No. I'm on the vulnerable list. All pharmacies said medical card holders only. This was well before HSE restricted to over 65s and frontline HCWs. I assumed they meant medical card holders who qualify due to being over 65 or having a long term illness, not all medical card holders. But they said HSE said stock was not for use for private patients regardless of qualifying for free flu vaccine.

iamwhoiam · 24-10-2020 8:00pm

Irene Puny Numerology wrote: »

No. I'm on the vulnerable list. All pharmacies said medical card holders only. This was well before HSE restricted to over 65s and frontline HCWs. I assumed they meant medical card holders who qualify due to being over 65 or having a long term illness, not all medical card holders. But they said HSE said stock was not for use for private patients regardless of qualifying for free flu vaccine.

Very odd , not the HSE recommendation . Our three local pharmacies were giving to vulnerable regardless of private or medical card .

Ps . Over 65 don’t automatically qualify for a medical card . Over 70 qualify for a GP card automatically but not a medical card if over limit
Long term illness automatically qualify for a green book ( free meds ) but do not automatically qualify for a medical card

r93kaey5p2izun · 24-10-2020 8:06pm

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Very odd , not the HSE recommendation . Our three local pharmacies were giving to vulnerable regardless of private or medical card .

Ps . Over 65 don’t automatically qualify for a medical card . Over 70 qualify for a GP card automatically but not a medical card if over limit

Yes, I'm aware of qualifying rules for medical card.

I could only get an appointment with Boots or McCabes, both for mid to late November having booked in early September, so chose McCabes as it's closer. GP had said from the start that he would only have enough for over 65s and children. Cancelled now and no hope of getting it for the first time in years. Spent a week in hospital with flu in 2018 despite being vaccinated so I know it's no guarantee, but it's worry.

iamwhoiam · 24-10-2020 8:10pm

Irene Puny Numerology wrote: »

Yes, I'm aware of qualifying rules for medical card.

I could only get an appointment with Boots or McCabes, both for mid to late November having booked in early September, so chose McCabes as it's closer. GP had said from the start that he would only have enough for over 65s and children. Cancelled now and no hope of getting it for the first time in years. Spent a week in hospital with flu in 2018 despite being vaccinated so I know it's no guarantee, but it's worry.

I hope you get it very soon .

COVID · 24-10-2020 9:01pm

Irene Puny Numerology wrote: »

Yes, I'm aware of qualifying rules for medical card.

I could only get an appointment with Boots or McCabes, both for mid to late November having booked in early September, so chose McCabes as it's closer. GP had said from the start that he would only have enough for over 65s and children. Cancelled now and no hope of getting it for the first time in years. Spent a week in hospital with flu in 2018 despite being vaccinated so I know it's no guarantee, but it's worry.

iamwhoiam wrote: »

I hope you get it very soon .

The flu or the vaccine?

r93kaey5p2izun · 25-10-2020 7:44pm

https://mobile.twitter.com/Eastcorkclinsoc/status/1320352686890430469

Very concerning to see gps facing decisions like this. Not enough stock even for the over 65s. My own gp says the same. How could they not foresee this spike in demand?

Graces7 · 26-10-2020 4:26pm

Irene Puny Numerology wrote: »

https://mobile.twitter.com/Eastcorkclinsoc/status/1320352686890430469

Very concerning to see gps facing decisions like this. Not enough stock even for the over 65s. My own gp says the same. How could they not foresee this spike in demand?

It was reported way back that they had ordered more than enough for just this reason as they foresaw the spike and were strongly advising more to get the vaccine, but the suppliers have now let them down.

Sheep Shagger · 27-10-2020 9:26am

Anyone have their Mccabes appointment cancelled and still waiting on refund?

They are ignoring emails and TBH i shouldn't have to chase given they cancelled on me....poor form.

blackbox · 06-11-2020 8:48pm

Anyone got any updates on availability of the vaccine?

I went to the pharmacist last week and was told there were 200 people on the waiting list and they had no idea when it would be available.

cj maxx · 06-11-2020 8:54pm

I’ve no idea and haven’t checked as I got mine, thankfully

odyssey06 · 06-11-2020 8:57pm

I read in the Indo that a delivery of 300,000 adult vaccinations just arrived.

Hoping that will clear the backlog - have a family member whose appt was cancelled (hopefully only postponed) by Boots.

Toots · 06-11-2020 9:08pm

I actually got a call from my local pharmacy this afternoon to say they had some if I wanted to come in. I'd enquired about it several weeks ago because I'm in the high risk group, and also a member of my household is being treated for cancer.

I ended up getting it in the GP a couple of weeks ago - the whole house had to get it. Also something to bear in mind if you have kids, the nasal spray isn't suitable if they live with someone immunocompromised. My kids had to get the shot.

Moragle · 06-11-2020 9:34pm

I'm a pharmacist. The medical card holders aren't priority, vulnerable groups are. Unfortunately there aren't enough vaccines so the priority at the moment is over 65s and healthcare workers, and there isn't even enough for them. I've a waiting list, all vulnerable people, of over 100. The HSE is sending me 10 next Wednesday! Me and my colleagues are at our wits end trying to prioritise. There just aren't enough and the HSE are blaming the national vaccines service and vice versa, as usual nobody is taking accountability.
And just FYI if you're in a vulnerable group ie over 65, immunocompromised, pregnant etc. there isn't a charge this year (in pharmacys can't speak for GP's) whether you have a medical card or not.

iamwhoiam · 06-11-2020 9:41pm

Toots wrote: »

I actually got a call from my local pharmacy this afternoon to say they had some if I wanted to come in. I'd enquired about it several weeks ago because I'm in the high risk group, and also a member of my household is being treated for cancer.

I ended up getting it in the GP a couple of weeks ago - the whole house had to get it. Also something to bear in mind if you have kids, the nasal spray isn't suitable if they live with someone immunocompromised. My kids had to get the shot.

Can i ask you why the nasal spray is not suitable if living with some immuno compromised ?

Rubberchikken · 06-11-2020 9:44pm

A frontline workers but have never gotten it. Never will. I don't even get head colds. And have tested negative in every covid test.
I'd prefer the flu vaccine goes to someone who might need it.

expectationlost · 06-11-2020 9:57pm

Irene Puny Numerology wrote: »

https://mobile.twitter.com/Eastcorkclinsoc/status/1320352686890430469

Very concerning to see gps facing decisions like this. Not enough stock even for the over 65s. My own gp says the same. How could they not foresee this spike in demand?

did they delete that tweet?

Potential-Monke · 06-11-2020 11:45pm

Due to the lockdowns, I believe I don't need it this year. Haven't been sick since April when we started WFH, and used to get sick at least once a month. To me, proof that it's work environments that make me sick, especially in call centre type places. I used to get right annoyed when someone with a slight cold or sniffles came into the office. I can hand on heart say that it was people like that were the cause for me getting sick.

So all going well I won't need it. The parents got it a few weeks back and no one has been sick in months in this house. It's great tbh, so I'd prefer if I was allocated a dose that it would go to the OAPs and frontline staff first.

Toots · 07-11-2020 1:33am

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Can i ask you why the nasal spray is not suitable if living with some immuno compromised ?

Apparently it's a "live" vaccine, so for the couple of days after it's administered, you "could" infect someone who had a severely compromised immune system (ie someone who is undergoing chemo) It would only be an issue if you actually lived with the person and had close contact. In my case, my toddler would simply not understand that she couldn't cuddle with the family member in question, and it wouldn't have been possible to isolate them.

The injectable vaccine is a "dead" vaccine so no risk of getting anyone else sick. At least that's as much as I understand it. The nurse in my GPs office was very helpful when I rang to query it and when we were in getting the shots she was really good explaining to the kids that why they had to have the needle even though school friends were getting the nasal spray.

There's more info here: https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/flu-vaccination/flu-vaccine-for-children/

Atlantic Dawn · 07-11-2020 1:39am

Rubberchikken wrote: »

A frontline workers but have never gotten it. Never will. I don't even get head colds. And have tested negative in every covid test.
I'd prefer the flu vaccine goes to someone who might need it.

And no point in ruining a winning formula.

Tom Mann Centuria · 07-11-2020 1:39am

Work in a hospital. I got it last year for the first time, got it again this year. We get a free pen, a bottle of water and a voucher for a coffee, how could I say no?

odyssey06 · 07-11-2020 9:25am

Toots wrote: »

Apparently it's a "live" vaccine, so for the couple of days after it's administered, you "could" infect someone who had a severely compromised immune system (ie someone who is undergoing chemo) It would only be an issue if you actually lived with the person and had close contact. In my case, my toddler would simply not understand that she couldn't cuddle with the family member in question, and it wouldn't have been possible to isolate them.

Does that in theory mean if a kid gets the nasal vaccine other family members might get the vaccine for free... so to speak?

iamwhoiam · 07-11-2020 9:34am

Toots wrote: »

Apparently it's a "live" vaccine, so for the couple of days after it's administered, you "could" infect someone who had a severely compromised immune system (ie someone who is undergoing chemo) It would only be an issue if you actually lived with the person and had close contact. In my case, my toddler would simply not understand that she couldn't cuddle with the family member in question, and it wouldn't have been possible to isolate them.

The injectable vaccine is a "dead" vaccine so no risk of getting anyone else sick. At least that's as much as I understand it. The nurse in my GPs office was very helpful when I rang to query it and when we were in getting the shots she was really good explaining to the kids that why they had to have the needle even though school friends were getting the nasal spray.

There's more info here: https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/flu-vaccination/flu-vaccine-for-children/

Thank you for the information . If the person the toddler was living with already had the flu vaccine 3 weeks ago would it then be still and issue ?

gozunda · 07-11-2020 10:53am

Rubberchikken wrote: »

A frontline workers but have never gotten it. Never will. I don't even get head colds. And have tested negative in every covid test.
I'd prefer the flu vaccine goes to someone who might need it.

As far as I understand it - you being vacinated helps protect those who you care for.

Frontline staff are also possiblely at higher risk of getting influenza in such a setting due to numbers of likley infections

And that's the main reasons why frontline staff are considered to be one of the priority groups

Appreciate what you say about your health but imo no one is invincible.

Atm looks like vacine availability is the biggest issue tbf.

Toots · 07-11-2020 12:31pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

Does that in theory mean if a kid gets the nasal vaccine other family members might get the vaccine for free... so to speak?

Erm... Im not sure what you mean? Like the kid couldn't pass the vaccine to them but they might give them the flu, if they were severely immunocompromised.

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Thank you for the information . If the person the toddler was living with already had the flu vaccine 3 weeks ago would it then be still and issue ?

I honestly don't know. It would depend if the person in question had developed the required immunity to the strain of flu in the vaccine I suppose. I think that would be a question for your GP. In my case the entire household was vaccinated on the same day so I don't know how it would work if the person was already vaccinated.

Incidentally, I have quite a headstrong toddler and I think the needle was the easier option for her. There's no way she'd have let someone near her with the nose spray whereas with the needle she was just slightly confused why her trousers were being pulled down and then screamed when the needle went in, then fecked off 2 seconds later not a bother on her.

r93kaey5p2izun · 07-11-2020 12:37pm

expectationlost wrote: »

did they delete that tweet? what did it say?

Yes, looks like they have since deleted. It was a gp posting a letter from the HSE stating that they were to only vaccinate elderly and front line health care workers, then move on to pregnant women and anyone with one of the listed underlying conditions only of they had vaccine stock left. The tweeter put figures on their dilemma of how many at risk patients they wouldn't be able to vaccinate - it was something like 800+ in the elderly category alone, and only 150 or so vaccine doses left.

odyssey06 · 07-11-2020 1:34pm

Toots wrote: »

Erm... Im not sure what you mean? Like the kid couldn't pass the vaccine to them but they might give them the flu, if they were severely immunocompromised.

It's a live attenuated version of the virus, so the kid could shed that as viral load - what happens if a person with regular immune system is exposed to that... I am just curious as to whether that person would get infected with the attenuated strain. Which for that person would in effect be just like a vacccine dose.

iamwhoiam · 07-11-2020 2:06pm

Toots wrote: »

Erm... Im not sure what you mean? Like the kid couldn't pass the vaccine to them but they might give them the flu, if they were severely immunocompromised.

I honestly don't know. It would depend if the person in question had developed the required immunity to the strain of flu in the vaccine I suppose. I think that would be a question for your GP. In my case the entire household was vaccinated on the same day so I don't know how it would work if the person was already vaccinated.

Incidentally, I have quite a headstrong toddler and I think the needle was the easier option for her. There's no way she'd have let someone near her with the nose spray whereas with the needle she was just slightly confused why her trousers were being pulled down and then screamed when the needle went in, then fecked off 2 seconds later not a bother on her.

Thanks for the message .I checked with the pharmacist who checked on the HSE guidlines and said it would only apply if the toddlers family member was on chemotherepy or had a bone marrow transplant .Or was in the very severe catagory of immuno suppressed

iamwhoiam · 07-11-2020 2:09pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

It's a live attenuated version of the virus, so the kid could shed that as viral load - what happens if a person with regular immune system is exposed to that... I am just curious as to whether that person would get infected with the attenuated strain. Which for that person would in effect be just like a vacccine dose.

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/flu-vaccination/flu-vaccine-for-children/

Who should not get the nasal flu vaccine
Your child should not get the vaccine if they:

have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the flu vaccine or any of its ingredients
have severe asthma or if they have been wheezy or needed their inhaler more than usual in the 3 days before the vaccination
are taking medicines called salicylates, which include aspirin
have a severely weakened immune system because of certain medical conditions or treatments
are living with someone who has a severely weakened immune system - for example, a person who has to live in insolation in the months following a bone marrow transplant
have a condition which means they have a leak of the CSF (the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord)

Vaccinated children can shed the weakened virus in the vaccine for a few days after vaccination but the virus does not survive for long outside the body. The weakened virus doesn’t cause disease, either in the person being vaccinated or in other people.

Since the vaccine was first licensed, there have been no reported cases of influenza passed from vaccinated children to their families or to their close contacts, including those who are pregnant.

greasepalm · 07-11-2020 2:15pm

I got it a week ago as my system is not great and if i get slightly wet sore throat and more to follow.
Interesting buy as i got the nasal spray by Vicks " First line of defense " and very happy as if i get the feeling of sore throat a few sprays up my nose and it never develops further.Stay safe.

440Hertz · 07-11-2020 2:25pm

I got it a few weeks ago, as usually I’m in contact with someone who is immune compromised due to a history of chemo, although during the level 5 I’m unlikely to be.

Anyway, other than a mildly sore arm and a slight reaction to it for 24 hours (just a bit generally achy) I don’t find I’ve noticed it at all.

Certainly isn’t a big enough inconvenience not to get it.

I’d suspect, with the social distancing, hand and surfaces hygiene and masks - it’s very likely the flu virus won’t have much of a chance of spreading this year though.

Frankie19 · 07-11-2020 2:30pm

Got it yesterday from my GP. 30 weeks pregnant,booked it 4 weeks ago and yesterday was the earliest they could schedule me in. Usually get it every year anyway as asthmatic but if I wasn't pregnant this year I probably wouldn't have bothered to allow someone who needs it more to get it. Also looking at Australia and the S Hemisphere their flu season was non existent this year due our new behaviours thanks to covid.

Arm a bit sore and had a banging headache for a few hours after it but today I feel fine.

odyssey06 · 07-11-2020 2:37pm

iamwhoiam wrote: »

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/flu-vaccination/flu-vaccine-for-children/
Vaccinated children can shed the weakened virus in the vaccine for a few days after vaccination but the virus does not survive for long outside the body. The weakened virus doesn’t cause disease, either in the person being vaccinated or in other people. Since the vaccine was first licensed, there have been no reported cases of influenza passed from vaccinated children to their families or to their close contacts, including those who are pregnant.

Thanks for the info... I found some more info on the CDC site as to why it doesn't survive for long outside the body:
The weakened viruses are cold-adapted, which means they are designed to only multiply at the cooler temperatures found within the nose, and not the lungs or other areas where warmer temperatures exist.

I'm still confused though, if the weakened virus doesn't cause disease, how is it a risk to "someone who has a severely weakened immune system"?
There must be some theoretical risk that the 'hobbled' virus could still be shed and infect someone - whether will full blown influenza or some attenuated version is unclear.

It seems to be a case of the precautionary principle, because according to this:
In the US, where there has been extensive use of LAIV for many years, serious illness amongst immunocompromised contacts who are inadvertently exposed to vaccine virus has never been observed.
http://www.oxfordahsn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/PHE-factsheet-for-HCW-andheadteachers-on-LAIV-concerns-about-viral-shedding.pdf

It still doesn't directly answer the question - because what they would be exposed to isn't the full blown influenza but the attenuated version.

odyssey06 · 07-11-2020 2:39pm

Frankie19 wrote: »

Got it yesterday from my GP. 30 weeks pregnant,booked it 4 weeks ago and yesterday was the earliest they could schedule me in. Usually get it every year anyway as asthmatic but if I wasn't pregnant this year I probably wouldn't have bothered to allow someone who needs it more to get it. Also looking at Australia and the S Hemisphere their flu season was non existent this year due our new behaviours thanks to covid.
Arm a bit sore and had a banging headache for a few hours after it but today I feel fine.

Australia has some restrictive quarantines in place. So how much of the reduction is flu is due to that versus the day to day restrictions is hard to say at this stage.

I usually find it's a good idea not to plan any big for the days after the flu vaccine, to be able to take it easy if a bit under the weather from it. Easier now that we're in lockdown.

Galwayguy35 · 07-11-2020 5:36pm

If it was being done for free then yes I would get it but it costs me €50 to visit the doc so unless I really need to go there I try to see them as little as possible.

It should be free but as usual taxpayers are entitled to nothing.

greasepalm · 07-11-2020 5:49pm

Is your local chemist not doing it for you as i get mine done by them.

Flu vaccine

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