I get a flu shot most years. Sometimes I don't get one because I'm busy.

I almost never get the flu.

I get about 1-2 colds per year.

They are free at work so I get one every year. Wife gets one from her work for free every year as well. Works pretty well for us. My daughter has not had one. I figure she needs to build up her own resistances first. The thing is, there are quite a few people out there that don't really know what the flu is and they confuse it with other stomach viruses or even bad colds. They get the shot (or not) and then get sick down the line and automatically say it was the flu.

Originally posted by Wildbob77
I get a flu shot most years. Sometimes I don't get one because I'm busy.

I almost never get the flu.

I get about 1-2 colds per year.

Yeah, thats about it for me too. A cold, usually after december. Maybe two.
Still not flu shots for me though

Take what some people have said about getting the flu (or feeling "different", whatever that means) after having a flu shot with a grain of salt. I have gotten flu shots in the past (off and on), and honestly, they did not make me feel any different or jeopardize my health in any way. However, the one time I have gotten the flu in the past 10 years was a year in which I didn't get a flu shot.

As most others on here, I am quite hesitant about bombarding my body with needless medications. This is the only reason I don't consistently take the shot each year. The past 3 years I have not had the flu shot but I have had to lie to my wife about getting it. She is one of those people who won't back down (sorry but I don't buy her reasoning of "do it for the children"). I allowed her to give the nasal mist to our infant and other young child, as well as herself, but I faked inhaling it and tossed it conspicuously in the trash.

Hopefully this doesn't make me a bad husband

I've never had a flu shot. I rarely ever get sick in any way, even a cold only lasts for a couple of days.

About 10 years ago, I got the flu really bad, it lasted about 5 or 6 weeks, and I went to the hospital a couple of times for intravenous of electrolytes. Just a short stay of 1/2 hour each time.

That year, they were giving the flu shot at work. It's free.
Those people that got the flu shot that year, still got the flu, and some of them were away from work for 3 months. It was a really bad strain that went around.

They don't push the vaccine up here much. They do make sure that we're reminded to take our Vitamin D and to eat our vegies, and hand wash a lot.
They also tend to remind us, that the vaccine doesn't work for everyone, and that some of us that are older already may have antibodies from decades ago, or even 10 years ago, from previous flues we may have had.

Thanks to everyone who has taken part in the conversation so far. It's great hearing all your views on such a controversial topic.

Rev

I didn't take the flu shot this year or any years in the past. I am not a believer in all these vaccinations we are encouraged to get for every little illness out there. What makes people believe that human beings are never supposed to get sick? Sounds crazy to me, much like running to get antibiotics everytime your not feeling well. Is it any wonder all these illness' are now immune to medication?
I have had the flu maybe 3 times in my 33yrs so if I get it again, well, I will just have to stay home from work and get better. Novel idea I know! I sure wish the parents' of my students had that brilliant idea instead of sending their children to school sick as can be.
I personally think the old saying "If you don't use it you lose it." goes for your immune system too. If it doesn't get the chance to do what it does then it can't grow stronger as you need it to. Just my opinion of course.

Peace & Love

I'm a big believer in letting my immune system do its job and fend off germs. The flu shot isn't even a guarantee, and I know too many people who get sick from it.

I don't take medicine even for headaches, and I only take medicine for absolute necessity.

This was the first year I received a flu shot. I've worked in the medical field for a few years and have gotten the flu almost every year for the past 5 years. One year it was the swine flu. Those were the worst 2 weeks of my life, not kidding, either. I live a pretty healthy lifestyle (besides the fact that I work in an emergency dept, lol) and it's gotten to me every year. My immune system is pretty shotty (always has been since I was young) so I did it to keep myself, my family and my patients healthy.

I'm not the type to fall in for conspiracies but this is one where I got to scratch my head and wonder. Why are they pushing these flu shots down our throats so much? I had one once. Was laid up with the flu for a few days immediately afterwards. They keep trying to convince us that the shots do not give you the flu but most people I talk to say otherwise. What's gonna happen when they demand I get one? It may come down to my job. I keep thinking this whole flu shot thing is some kind of scam.