Stopping flu shot

U.S.A. Florida

Published

I had taken the flu shot for the first time and then stopped.

The next year I did't take the shot I came down with flu

like illness three times with fever of 102F.

I have never had been sick that many times in a year before.

So I went back on the shots.

Does the flu shot make you dependent on them and you have to keep taking them, or can you stop at any time without any increaced susceptability?

Thanx:)

You cannot become dependent on flu shots.

Flu shots target different strains each year. I have taken them since I was a kid. I think every nurse has a responsibility to get one (as long as he/she has no health problems that would preclude it) in order to protect his/her patients.

I too skipped it a few years ago and *&%@ died from the flu. Needless to say, I will not skip again!

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I hadn't had the flu since 1992, which was the last time I ever went without a flu shot. But this year, the strain that the vaccine DIDN'T protect against got me, and I'm STILL dealing with the fallout over two months later.....cough's hanging on, sinuses are still iffy, and now I've got intestinal miseries to go along with it. (Last night I got sick after eating dinner at work, and I've been having episodes of watery diarrhea ever since......thank God for Pepto-Bismol!!)

I guess it's just going to take some time to build up my immune system again after the repeated assaults by different flora over the course of the winter. I simply can't WAIT for spring and sunshine......maybe then I'll get some of my famous get-up-and-go back!

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