Annual flu vaccine - Will you get yours this year and why?

June55Baby · Oct 3, 2002

sJoe.... the Flu vaccine is not 100% effective in preventing the flu. According to the CDC, "Some people who take the flu vaccine may still get the flu, but they will usually have a milder case than those who did not get the shot."

MollyMo · Oct 3, 2002

I've been exposed to the flu without taking the shot and I didn't get sick. I took the shot and slept in a chair for 3 weeks because I stopped breathing every time I lay down.That happened twice. I haven't had the flu since I stopped taking the shot. I haven't had pneumonia since I started going south during the winter months. Take the shot? Nope, don't think so!!!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Oct 4, 2002

I talked to my MD about the flu shot and she said you can either take your chances of getting sick with the flu or you can guaruntee getting sick (though mildly) after you take the shot. Also add to that the fact that each shot doesn't guaruntee coverage for the bugs that might be around that year... Well I decided that I hadn't gotten the flu for a few years so why take the shot?

Since then (6-7 years ago) I have not had the flu and in fact have not had to take a sick day in two years. I figure why mess with success? And besides, in the middle of winter I usually would welcome a good fever, stay in bed and feel sorry for myself, aches and pains, and lots of hot tea, and strong meds. Truly...I have a cold every now and then and spending a day or two whining and drinking hot tea with Tylenol feels pretty good.

Nah, a flu shot would ruin my winter.

midnightkk · Oct 6, 2002

My work also offers the flu vaccine, and I have never gotten the flu. They also made it mandatory one year as the other reply stated, as there was such a shortage of RN's they didn't want anyone to get sick. The people that don't like receiving the flu vaccine were not impressed and if the refused to get the vaccine and got sick, they would receive no sick pay.

frankie · Oct 6, 2002

always get a flu shot - since 1989 when i had a terrible case of the real flu - that taught me! also, the patient population i deal with have immunocrompromising ways about them , so.....flu shots for everyone in our clinic - frankie

midnightkk · Oct 6, 2002

Yes, I will get the flu shot again. I believe it will protect me.

jode · Oct 6, 2002

Frankie!!! I know what you mean.....there is nothing like a case of the bona fide influenza to make you a believer! You can understand why it has such a high morbidity in the elderly population ! I encourage everyone to be vaccinated, but it should indeed be voluntary unless you are working with high risk individuals.

winniewoman9060ret · Oct 11, 2002

I am a real advocate for getting the flu shot. My son who is now 17 got the flu when he was 11. He ended up with encephalitis in right temporal lobe with grand mal seizures. He even ended up on the ventilator. Fortunately, with great medical care he survived with minimal deficits. He has lost a little spelling, that is what they make spell checkers for!!!!!!

Yes I get the flu shot and so do both of my kids.

And now you know my story

sjoe · Oct 11, 2002

I got a flu shot this year. I didn't get the flu, thankfully, but I was able to stay awake only 4-5 hours the whole next day, so got more than caught up on my sleep. No other side effects to speak of.