Do You Get A Flu Shot Personally?

[kitykids3]

I have only gotten one flu shot my entire 18 years of adult life. That was because a parent paid for it 2 years ago. I have only gotten the flu once in 20 years. This year a parent is saying it is pretty bad and was insisting of me getting one.
Just curious how many of you get them? Every year?

[Heidi]

Never had one, either. I've gotten the flu a couple times over my lifetime. I guess until it gets to the point where I can't fight it (being older or frailer), I wont get one. I guess I tend to think that immunzations are great-for life threatening/altering illnesses, but I never really thought of influenza that way.

If I had a child in my care with a compromised immune system, I'd probably do it for him or her.

[sharlan]

I have never had a flu shot. I don't think I've ever had the flu with a fever, chills, etc.

[laundrymom]

Nope. And I don't plan on it. I've got pretty un-politically correct views on some things, this is one of them. Lol.

[Country Kids]

I never have had one but this year they are urging EVERYONE to get one. Usually its for the very young and old but this year they are saying its best for everyone to get it.

Heidi, in the early 1900's I believe I know there was a huge outbreak and I can't remember how many but I believe it was in the thousands that died from the influenza. Of course they didn't have the shot back then.

I do know though that people do die from the flu and it makes me wonder why? You don't think throwing up/diarehha is going to kill you but I guess we never know.

[Blackcat31]

If I had a child in my care with a compromised immune system, I'd probably do it for him or her.

My hubs has diabetes so because of his compromised immune system, I do get one every year.

If it weren't for him, I don't know if I would bother. I am a pretty healthy person. ONE sick day since the day I opened.

[Solandia]

It depends on the year. I think I have had maybe 6 flu shots my entire life.

My first one I went with my grandma...she was having lots of issues, and ended up on dialysis that year, so to protect her. One year, I had a preemie dck. Another year was when my girls first got dx'ed with asthma. Another year after my one dd had pnuemonia 4 times. Another year after my other dd had strep throat 5x.

We had h1n1 go through the daycare& our house right before it hit the media...that ****ed big time. The little kids did okay, my bff was in the hospital having her baby & got it right after. So we did get the flu vax that next year only because dh & I still had bronchitits issues that whole summer into the fall...it took a long time to get back to 100%.

[kitykids3]

Well, I've got sickness induced asthma, don't pick up everything tho, but also have 3 preemies. Maybe I should get one?

[Heidi]

I never have had one but this year they are urging EVERYONE to get one. Usually its for the very young and old but this year they are saying its best for everyone to get it.

Heidi, in the early 1900's I believe I know there was a huge outbreak and I can't remember how many but I believe it was in the thousands that died from the influenza. Of course they didn't have the shot back then.

I do know though that people do die from the flu and it makes me wonder why? You don't think throwing up/diarehha is going to kill you but I guess we never know.

True influenza is NOT throwing up,etc. It's like a cold on steroids...aches, chills, fever, etc.

Here is the flu you were talking about, from History.com:

The influenza or flu pandemic of 1918 to 1919, the deadliest in modern history, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide--about one-third of the planet’s population at the time--and killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims. More than 25 percent of the U.S. population became sick, and some 675,000 Americans died during the pandemic. The 1918 flu was first observed in Europe, the U.S. and parts of Asia before swiftly spreading around the world. Surprisingly, many flu victims were young, otherwise healthy adults. At the time, there were no effective drugs or vaccines to treat this killer flu strain or prevent its spread. In the U.S., citizens were ordered to wear masks, and schools, theaters and other public places were shuttered. Researchers later discovered what made the 1918 pandemic so deadly: In many victims, the influenza virus had invaded their lungs and caused pneumonia.

I remember when there was the flu a couple years ago, the main concern was similar; that's it's not the old and the weak who will be most affected. It's people with healthy immune systems. That goes against our idea of what we THINK should happen. It makes me actually consider the vaccine.

[Heidi]

Well, I've got sickness induced asthma, don't pick up everything tho, but also have 3 preemies. Maybe I should get one?

I'd say so!

[MNMum]

Our family was the perfect little science experiment this year. My husband and I are required to get one for work (he's in the Army, I'm a NICU RN). Usually we have our kids get them. This year I decided not to have them vaccinated. 2 of the 3 got the Flu. It was bad, temps of 103, neither ate anything for 5-7 days. Also, they are contagious for up to a week. Luckily it happened over the New Year's holiday, so my oldest only missed one day of school. Could they fight it again, probably. But it also means missing 5-7 days of school or work, per child. I was glad I got the vaccination this year.

[saved4always]

I usually get one. Although I have never had the true flu, I feel better getting the vaccination with all the little runny noses that get wiped all over me everyday. I am kind of germaphobic.

[countrymom]

nope never ever, don't believe in it.

[Hazel]

I don't get it. I only got the shot ONCE and got a different strain of the flu that same year! That was the ONLY time I got the shot and the ONLY time I got the flu...l
But I will say, a DCM of mine is a pediatric and geriatric physicians assistant and said a few weeks ago that kids are coming in left and right with it and the elderly at the nursing homes where she does rotations are "dropping like flies" and has even had a few patients in the homes (not hers) die from it. She hasn't asked me to get one (and I wouldn't) bc her kids have had them. Im conflicted....
I make my own elderberry syrup with honey and apple cider vinegar and take it twice a day as well as 500mg of vitamin C twice a day. I rarely get sick

[Michael]

Nope, don't go them. I eat verywell and try not to eat processed foods, and take the sickness if it comes. I'm all about letting the immune system do its thing. My cold or flu last from a few hours to a couple days.

My daughter was just bedridden with the flu. It lasted a couple days. Raw, milk and egg smoothies and no medication. She is fine today.

Not saying you shouldn't take a flu shot. It's a personal choice. Whatever works got you. The OP could have put up a yes or no poll.