Flu shot, or not?

[Clodfobble]

Had it once. Got the flu two days later. Never had the shot or the flu before or since.

They gave it to my son last winter along with several other vaccinations. He did not get the flu.

[glatt]

I don't think I've ever had the flu. Some years I get the shot, and some years I don't. Maybe it works, maybe not. But I did just see a commercial for the shot the other day. The drug company is trying to generate a little demand.

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by glatt

I don't think I've ever had the flu. Some years I get the shot, and some years I don't. Maybe it works, maybe not.

I've had it once in my life and I don't get the shots. I've heard a lot of people say they get the flu every year unless they get the shot, but I can only guess that these people seem to think they've got the flu when it is really nothing more than a bad cold.

Hint: unless you have a temp above 103F, are sick for a full week, are rendered completely immobile by the illness and cannot leave bed, and start thinking you'd prefer death by day three then you probably don't have the flu.

I remember the chills of a 104F fever (arms shook so much I couldn't write legibly) and can tell you that there is a reason you "catch a cold" versus "having the flu". It is misery like no other and fully deserves the title.

My old roommate, who has never actually caught the illness, used to complain several times a year that he had the flu when he only saw a peak fever of 101F. He'd walk around achy, sniffling, whining that he was too sick to go to work. Lucky bastard.

If you do catch it, I found it was better to let the damn thing run its course: burrito up in piles of blankets, take hot baths, drink warm beverages. Let the fever soar and burn it off -- you'll suffer many fewer days than someone who keeps their fever down with medication.

[jester]

I've never received a flu shot and so far, haven't had the flu either. But, now that I've posted this....Last year and the year before, there was a shortage here, and the flu season was severe, so they were encouraging only the elderly and those who were "susceptible" to go ahead and have the shot. They were also offering the "flu-mist" to kids in school, with a parents permission, because so many were missing and some schools were closing.