Question of the Day, Thursday Oct 20, 2011

Well, let's see if I got the day and date right LOL. I'm standing in for Chris who apologizes, she's fighting a bad head cold! !!!!!!

Which brings me to the question.... do you get the flu shot? And for non-US citizens, do they offer or make a big deal about the flu season flu shot?

I've never gotten one. I like to rely on my own immune system to keep me healthy. And, I swear, everyone I know who gets a flu shot gets sick within a week! What's that about?!

I have not and will not. My mother has gotten sick sooo many times after getting one. The years she hasn't she hasn't gotten sick. She never made me as a kid. I had my DD get one last year because we were already at the peds. But I'm not bringing her in for one this year. She is at home with me and really we don't go out that much. If she were in daycare I might consider it.

I don't get one, and neither does anyone in my family. We just don't get the flu. Maybe the regular old flu is a northern thing, because I don't really remember the flu going around school, either. Just really bad colds.

Now, if they made a vaccine for strep throat, I'd be all over that. I get strep throat once a year, usually.

I've never had a flu shot, and I've never had the flu (knock wood!). My doctors always badger me about it but I decline every time. If I ever do get the flu and experience first hand how awful it really is, then maybe I'd consider the shot in the future. But for now, I'll take my chances.

I got mine several weeks ago since I'm considered high risk. The shot didn't hurt a bit!

Taking public transportation every day, working at a school and having some chronic health issues, I'd be ill-advised not to get one. The two or three times I haven't gotten the flu shot over the past few decades, I've gotten the flu. My health insurance covers it, and the public authorities really push it.

One of my best friends in the States lost her husband to the flu a few years ago, so I know it's something to take seriously.

I've only had one in my whole life and that was many, many years ago. I remember how sick it made me so I have never had one since.

I do not get the flu shot.

Because I have RA it puts me in the group of people who are advised to get one. But I have never gotten one.

The reason is because the drugs I take suppress my immune system and I avoid exposure to things that can make me sick. My luck injecting flu vaccine would be one of those things.

I know that I am probably being stupid. But then I have had so many tell me that they got sick from the shot.

I do get Flu Shots, in fact I got one Tuesday morning at my Doctor's appointment.

Because of my COPD I have to have the Flu shot every year and also a Pneumonia shot every 5 years.

I've heard folks say they have gotten the flu after getting the shot and I asked my doctor about that. Apparently the virus in the flu shot is a dead virus so it is not possible to get the flu from the shot. Because of the time of year that flu shots are available, it's likely the person would have gotten the flu anyway - with or without the shot.

I'm getting mine tomorrow evening.

I do get a flu shot, since I am a diabetic.

Yes.,,I accepted one at the begining of the colds... ...

I've never had a flu shot and will never get one.

After getting the flu about 5 years ago, I usually get one each year, and haven't had the flu since. I didn't get around to getting the shot last year, and it was too late by the time I remembered (I had been on vacation the week my Dr. had the flu shots).

For those who say they get sick after the flu shot: most shots contain killed flu virus, which should not/cannot make you sick. You may have been exposed to the flu, and were infected just before you got your flu shot. Also, any doctor would tell you that no vaccination can guarantee you won't get the illness. You also can have the flu without having symptoms, although this is unusual. As one usually gets a flu shot during flu season, it would make sense that one was probably already exposed to the flu, and therefore, may have been infected just before getting the shot. It is possible, however, to have an adverse reaction to a vaccination, which varies in severity among individuals.

Ok, here's some proof I just dug up, which says what I always thought, in case you don't believe Dr. Marge:-):

http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/about/qa/flushot.htm#cantheflu

Rick gets a flu shot every year, but I've never received one.

I don't bother with the flu shot because I get sick anyway.

I don't get the flu shot. My job offers it every year but I never have bothered.

My employer (an insurance company) offers a flu shot clinic every year, but I never get one. Although I did catch a really bad flu last year so maybe I'll be changing my mind this year and get one