Idiotic comment. I told you earlier in the thread that I take the vaccines because I’m immuneo-compromised. Hence I got the COVID jabs on the 2nd/3rd wave and entitled to free flu jabs yearly. This year, I opted not to take the jab because I’d already got the flu around October.
If you want to pay for vaccine every year, that’s your personal choice but most younger people don’t need it because if they do get, they’ll be alright. The data is showing it’s the decrease in vaccine take up amongst over-50s is driving the issues in the NHS
These are collated surveys published on Gov.uk fyi. Not really ‘guess work’ but there’s obviously a margin for error. What the data does show is that take up is decreasing year on year in consecutive years.
Infection Does Not Equal Full Immunity
Having the flu in October doesn't necessarily protect you for the rest of the season because the "flu" isn't one virus; it’s a group. If you caught Influenza A in October, you are still vulnerable to Influenza B. The annual vaccine is quadrivalent, meaning it’s designed to protect against the four most likely strains circulating that year.
Waning Immunity is also a big problem, especially for those who are immunocompromised, natural immunity from an infection can be short-lived compared to the broader "prime" the vaccine provides.
The "Younger People are Fine" thing is a total myth. While younger people are less likely to die from the flu, the argument that they don't need it overlooks two factors:
Transmission: Healthy young people are the primary Vectors (spreaders). By getting vaccinated, they create a shield around vulnerable people (like yourself) who might not have a strong immune response to the jab.
Complications: Even in healthy adults, the flu can trigger pneumonia, myocarditis (heart inflammation), or long flu symptoms.
NHS Pressures are a collective Issue.
While the over-50s demographic is the most high-risk group for hospitalization, NHS pressures aren't driven by just one age group.
When vaccine uptake drops among the young, the virus circulates more freely in the community. This inevitably reaches the elderly and vulnerable, regardless of how many boosters they take. A surge in flu cases among any age group leads to more GP appointments, more A&E visits, and more staff sickness within the NHS itself, which cripples the system's ability to function.
