I know it’s been talked about ad nauseum in the media, and I don’t want to get into a huge discussion here. But, I’d still like to know! Do you normally get flu shots for yourself or your family? And if not, do you plan on getting a flu shot this year, either the seasonal flu shot or the special H1N1 (swine) flu shot? I know the H1N1 flu is serious and more likely to affect younger people and children, and it’s a big concern.
As for me, I don’t plan on getting either one. I should have blogged about this years ago, but I don’t think I ever did. Years ago, when I worked full-time, my company offered flu shots to employees, as a preventive measure I’m sure. I got one (this was a very long time ago, maybe 18 years or so) and boom, a couple of days later I was sick. And I mean, very sick! I had the worse case of the flu I have ever had. I was out of commission for 5 or 6 days, and I could barely get up to go to the bathroom. I remember being miserable, and I remember laying there thinking, I am *never* going to get a flu shot, ever again! And so, to this day, I have not gotten a flu shot since. And you know what, I haven’t gotten the flu again either!
So, how about you? Vote in the poll or leave me a comment and let me know what you or you and your family are going to do this year about this.
Hope everyone is healthy and happy!
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I have never gotten a flu shot. I think that if I still did daycare, I might consider getting an H1N1 shot, but more for the sake of the children in my care than myself. I would hate to be a carrier & infect one of the babies I was caring for day after day. But I don’t work in that field anymore, I don’t come into excessive contact with other people & when I do, it’s primarily adults. I will leave the vaccines for the people who need them more: the young adults, children, pregnant women–and the people who work with those groups.
Flu shots are pretty standard in our household. With two of three kiddos with “lung issues” they’re pretty important. Annie, on more than one occasion, ended up hospitalized (when she was younger) simply because of a cold. So, yeah, she definitely doesn’t need the flu!!!
May you and Tim stay healthy this flu season! And that goes for all your readers, too! 😀
You sound just like my dad, Stacy! 😉 He, too, got a flu shot years ago and got sick, and until this year has refused to get another one. (This year my mom and I nagged him until he gave up and did it. hee!) I’ll tell you what the pharmacist who gave me mine told me — when he got his shot (and probably when you did, too), they were still using a weakened LIVE virus in the shots, so it WAS possible for you to get sick, but today they’re using a KILLED virus — no possibility to get the flu from the vaccine. Anyone lately who says they have probably got exposed right before they got the vaccine and would have gotten sick anyway. I got the seasonal shot a few weeks ago and as soon as the swine flu vaccine is available here, I’m getting that, too. I would be at high risk if I ever got that flu, so I’m not taking any chances.
No, I’ve never had a flu shot and I don’t plan to unless my health changes. I hardly ever get sick, especially the flu. I usually get one rotten cough from a semi cold, like right now. I lose sleep and get sore ribs, but that’s it. I don’t even have the head/nasal congestion, just the chest cold/post nasal. I’m very lucky and now I’ve probably jinxed myself!! Knocking on wood.
Same story here. I got one when I worked at a college b/c they made such a big deal about it. I have never been so sick in my life – had to have the campus nurse come to my room and give me shots and other fun stuff. Never again (or so I said).
I just had a bit of the flu last weekend but I honestly think b/c I’m not always on meds or sick, I have a stronger constitution or something. But that being said, there are plenty of people who should get it because of susceptibility or something.
I’ve been getting flu shots for the past 4 or 5 years. My husband’s company gives them for free to employees and spouses, and I love a bargain;) Seriously, my friend is a nurse and talks me into it every year. I need to get them for my kids yet this year. As for the H1N1, yeah, we’ll probably get that, too, if it becomes available. There’s a bit of a shortage in our state right now.
No. Way. will anyone in our house get the h1n1 shot, esp. not the kids. Thankfully most parents I know are refusing it for their kids, but I’m surprised every time I hear of someone who will. Untested shot and kids as guinea pigs? No way. We’re very careful with all vaccines at our house. The kids only get vaxed for serious diseases that they’re likely to contract, which means they don’t get many vaccines. It’s amazing how many shots they try to give kids these days.
We always get the seasonal flu shot. Never had any problems with it, and you can’t get the flu from the shot. 😉 (Although I did *apparently* have a reaction this year – but it was a lot better than getting any of the 3 flus that are in the vax!) We had no plans to get the H1N1, but Kyle and Andrew ended up getting that flu anyway.
I’ve only gotten the flu shot once, I was sicker with the flu that year than I ever have been. So like you, I do not plan on ever getting a flu shot of any kind ever again. I just don’t see that the risks are worth it. That said I have a very low immune system….so I tend to catch everything that goes around so I am a bit worried about this strain of flu.
I have already gotten the seasonal and h1n1 shots. I have had a rough year with my lungs, so it wasn’t a question in my mind at all. Both my kids have gotten the seasonal and h1n1 shots as well. My husband has only gotten the seasonal shot, but I expect that he will get the h1n1 shot when it is more widely available. He is not high risk like we are, so he will wait for others to get it first.
We never get flu shots. I’ve never had the flu. Ever. One of my kids has has the flu twice. Another one has had it once. Another one has never had it.
The one time my husband got a flu shot he got a very bad case of the flu a few days later (like you).
I’ll just take my chances.
I had never gotten the flu shot (and never had the flu) until I started my rotations two years ago. Since then, I’ve gotten the seasonal shot every year and I did get the H1N1 shot. I figure that since I have FOR SURE going to be around people who have the flu (and kids at that…somehow they are more contagious!) I should probably get the shots, if for no other reason than to protect the OTHER PATIENTS. Hope it works. 🙂
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