Who gets one???

D

debgore

Cathlete
A flu shot, that is. They're available at my local grocery store tomorrow and, like every year, I'm going back and forth on whether or not to get one. What do you guys do?
 
I can honestly say I've never had a flu shot. Knock on wood but I rarely get sick, if I do it's a mild cold and that's it.

A lot of people get them. I think if you're prone to getting sick such as flu like symptons once or twice a year, then it's a good idea to get one.

Annette
 
I'd been getting them every year for a while, since during my first year, I got sick as a dog and was in bed for days (as a teacher, I get exposed to lots of sneezing students), but I always felt uncomfortable getting them. Last year, I decided to go without, and to just boost my natural immunity. I noticed no difference from the years when I did get the shots. Two of my colleagues who also used to get them joined me in my flu shot boycott, and they were no worse off either.

I don't plan on getting one this year, either. Just more vitamin C, antioxidants, green tea...
 
I always get one! The flu kills tens of thousands of people every year. I figure there's no reason to die of a preventable cause.
 
I always get one. Of course, I have asthma so the flu could be potentially more dangerous for me than a non-asthmatic 32 year old. I figure why risk it.
 
> The flu kills tens of thousands of people
>every year.

Not to say that it is not serious, but 90% of those are elderly. Young children and those with diabetes or heart disease or respiratory illnesses are also at a higher risk.
 
I plan on getting one. One year, I didn't and got the flu and was SO sick... fever, chills, total exhaustion for days, it was horrible. I'm one who believes that technological advances in medicine should be applauded (I also have a brother who's a scientist with a major pharm company, and he's one of the most ethical, honorable people I know.).
 
I don't get them - I'm allergic to the preservative they typically use in the solutions. I've heard that this preservative is being phased out so when it's gone I might consider it (but likely wouldn't get one).
 
I often get them ... have never had a bad reaction. Last year I was the only person in my department who did not become ill with the flu. I'd much rather work than be laid up with the flu. Deb
 
I am getting one...I have to...the school requires it. I am a medical student and as such get exposed to absolutely EVERYTHING.

Becky
 
I'm getting one. It's harder being older to recover from the flu.

Janie

The idea is to die young as late as possible
 
I get one. I got the flu once and then got pneumonia (a common complication) and took forever to recover. It was weeks before I could do Cathe again.
 
We all have our own opinions..and here is why I have mine....
I have known 2 perfectly healthy people die from flu related complications. I always get the flu shot. It is more important than ever now...for example, if Avian flu becomes transmittable person to person, and one developed flu like sympotms, the docs could likely rule out standard flu (if you report being currently vaccinated) and begin more agressive tx...on the other hand, if you had not been vaccinated, the MD may have a harder time deciding tx, as the standatd flu is so much more prevelant..and this could delay therapy. This may seem extreme, but this is the explanation that I got from an infectious disease specialist.
 
I get one. I'm a nurse, so I do it to protect my patients (fresh open heart surgery patients), but also because the one year in the last ten that I didn't get a shot, I had a horrible bout of flu -- five days in bed, totally understanding how flu can kill elderly, less healthy people! It was awful, and I'll gladly get a shot to try to avoid being sick like that again.

Allison
 
I had to get one every year I was on active duty in the military and only one time did I not get sick as a result. I never get them now, and I haven't gotten the flu (thank you sweet Jesus). I have always heard that the current year's flu shot is based on LAST year's flu, and that it always mutates. Therefore, its questionable whether it would help anyway.

It's a tough call - maybe you should talk with your doctor?
 
I haven't gotten one in a couple of years--but only out of pure laziness. I didn't make an appt. with my Dr. and didn't search out the places that were supplying them. When I get the flu I get it BAD--laid up for at least a full week with constant vomiting. I may get one this year. We'll see.
 
I will get the flu shot and so will my DH and kids. One of my kids has asthma, so he's always gotten the shot and we always have his siblings vaccinated also.

I had the flu a few years ago when there was a shortage of the vaccine and I was so sick and miserable. I don't want to ever go through that again if possible and I don't want my kids to either.

My one son with asthma still gets the flu some years even though he's been vaccinated. This past year, his sister and I both got it from him but we weren't as sick as he was.

Right now I am trying to convince my 77 year old father to get the vaccine. He lives alone and out of state and I'm so worried that he'll get sick. He heard from someone that you can get the flu from the vaccine and now he's afraid to get the shot even though I keep telling him that's not true.

Erica
 
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