<p>I’m 45. I think I’ve had real flu about 3 times in my life. Once in childhood.</p>
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<p>As the flu viruses mutate every year, that isn’t going to help much. But you seem to have made up your mind. Regarding your “what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger” attitude, here’s hoping it doesn’t kill you. But it seems silly to me that people skip a simple thing like a flu shot that CAN keep you alive, and protect others around you from infection if you get sick.</p>
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<p>It’s a nice slogan, but unfortunately it simply isn’t true. There are many illnesses that may not kill you but can still leave you permanently weakened or even severely disabled. Ever hear of polio? Or how about stroke, or emphysema, or heart attack, or paraplegia & quadraplegia…? The list goes on and on.</p>
<p>"It’s a nice slogan, but unfortunately it simply isn’t true. There are many illnesses that may not kill you but can still leave you permanently weakened or even severely disabled. Ever hear of polio? Or how about stroke, or emphysema, or heart attack, or paraplegia & quadraplegia…? The list goes on and on. "</p>
<p>Yes, of course. It’s a trite saying - but I DID take a polio vaccine - it’s pretty specific. The flu vaccine isn’t near as guaranteed to work. They make an educated guess about which strains will be going around, and vaccinate against a few strains. You can still get the flu and die. Yes, it’s added protection. I just don’t see it the same way as a polio vaccine.</p>
<p>Stroke, empysema, heart attack, paraplegia, etc. etc. C’mon. Please. I’m talking about viruses that you CAN actually become immune to, develop resistance to, etc. And yes, I realize they mutate. Regardless, I haven’t had the flu in over 10 years. I know people who get the vaccine every year, and STILL have gotten some strain of flu. </p>
<p>All bets are off when I become older, weaker, whatever. I may get the shot then. We’ll see.</p>
<p>I am also saddened & troubled by the anti-vaccine movement. I think it needlessly puts a lot of people at risk.</p>
<p>I get my flu shot every year, as does H. We both have chronic health conditions; neither of us have anything but sometimes a bit of tenderness/pain at the injection site the fades pretty quickly. </p>
<p>Our kids tried getting the flu shot several years, even in split doses. Both kids got sick after each shot. The docs recommended they not get the flu shot any more because taking the shot pretty much guaranteed they’d get sick (their illnesses generally run weeks to a month or longer). They seem to stay healthier without having the flu shot.</p>
<p>I get my flu shot every year as well. I have watched friends recently down for the count who did not get it. I received an email where I work where the shots are free and I will get mine this coming week.</p>
<p>I had bad flus in the 50s and 60s. The worst was in 1962. I was so sick for two weeks through the Christmas break. We didn’t have shots. We got sick. Antibiotics to secondary infections were given by a doctor via a shot who visited the home. Can you imagine. The doctor made house visits!</p>
<p>I know I am up for getting sick this year since I have changed where I live and will be exposed to different “bugs.” Luckily, I don’t work with young children anymore; they came to school sick even though they weren’t supposed to attend if they had a fever. The school nurse, a good friend, went crazy with this.</p>
<p>Are any of you guys getting an annoying McDonald’s ad in the corner of the page which keeps trying to “open” up?</p>
<p>EDIT: I just saw the thread about this. Guess I wasn’t the only one.</p>
<p>I always get the flu shot as soon as it is available. Got mine at my internist’s office when I was there for my annual check-up. He said I was the 1st at his office to receive it. H got his from a pharmacy, with no co-pay. Later, we saw a sign that if you got it at CVS, they’d give you a discount coupon for all your purchases from that store! Oh well, perhaps another year. </p>
<p>I have had the beginnings of the flu at least 3 or 4 times (even though I had taken the flu shots). Used the Tamiflu promptly & ended the virus before it made me very ill. Was glad it interrupted the course of the flus and allowed me to return to health. Infections – viral or bacterial – are VERY dangerous for me and tend to last a very long time. My docs want me to be proactive in eliminating them.</p>
<p>I always get the shot, but last year, my arm hurt a lot for weeks after getting the shot. Is there any way to avoid that (besides the mist)? I’m nervous about that happening again.</p>
<p>They’re saying they’re developing/have developed a new technique to do the injection that causes less trauma to the skin, if that’s what caused your pain. Personally, I have never had pain at the injection site for more than a few days, though I have had them annually since 2000. I don’t qualify for the mist, since I have asthma.</p>
<p>Here’s the official CDC announcement & info about the 2012-2013 flu vaccines:</p>
<p>[CDC</a> - Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - What You Should Know for the 2012-2013 Influenza Season](<a href=“http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2012-2013.htm#recommendations]CDC”>http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2012-2013.htm#recommendations)</p>
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<p>Yes, I had it then; it was awful. Days of hideous headaches and fever. My husband had it too. Our kids were little then and I don’t know how we managed because we were barely functional.</p>
<p>My cousin’s child had H1N1 and nearly died, was in the hospital for weeks, in an induced coma for some of the time.</p>
<p>Despite all this, I’ve only gotten a flu shot once. The one I got really hurt, and then my arm hurt for a day or two.</p>
<p>It wasn’t skin pain, it was muscular – as if the local area had a flu response.</p>
<p>Aching at the site is one of the potential side effects. I haven’t heard of any way to prevent it. The shot itself doesn’t hurt very much at all (I got it yesterday, and barely felt it.)</p>
<p>Early this week was about my 10th one in the past 10 years. While I think it depends some on the person who administers the shot and where they put it, it is also important to completely relax the muscle in your arm. This year I barely felt the shot, and had zero residual pain or stiffness. I am getting good at this relaxing thing. :)</p>
<p>Had my flu shot last week. Flu shots are free in Chicago.</p>
<p>I got my shot earlier today. I always feel achy afterwards so I have taken a couple of doses of ibuprofen. I still feel achy. The site, itself doesn’t hurt but more of an all over ache. Last year when I asked my dr. if it was possible that I get a reaction to the preservative she brushed off my concern. (I have got to find a new doctor!). My H has a chronic lung disease so I will put up with some minor achiness. Just feeling a bit sorry for myself. Whining over.</p>
<p>To minimize arm soreness, use that upper arm a lot, flex the muscle to get the vaccine out of that spot. Lotsofquests, I have sometimes felt achy as well. You are probably just having some of those minor symptoms that some get, no reaction to the preservative. I felt funny for a number of years the next day, and then no reaction at all the last few. </p>
<p>Regarding employers providing vaccines and clinics-it is a public health measure, so important to get a great number of folks immunized. Not just for yourself, and absenteeism, but it is also a measure of protection for those around you in the workplace as well as elsewhere, with chronic illness who could end up hospitalized. </p>
<p>When the kids were young I worked for what used to be called Visiting Nurse Service, giving flu shots in the fall. Loved sitting in executive board rooms, looking out at the scenery while running my own little flu shot clinic. Sometimes I go to my kids’ schools as well, giving me an extra chance to visit with the staff. No vaccinations for kids there, just staff. </p>
<p>Remember when they used to close schools because the absenteeism was so high during flu season? Can’t remember when that last happened.</p>
<p>“Antibiotics to secondary infections were given by a doctor via a shot who visited the home. Can you imagine. The doctor made house visits!”</p>
<p>In France, they do that all the time. No big deal.</p>
<p>Remember when they used to close schools because the absenteeism was so high during flu season? Can’t remember when that last happened.</p>
<p>I can’t say we ever had that happen.
My mom used to always get flu shots because she had asthma, but she still got sick.
I also have asthma, & I always think about getting it, but i rarely get a cold or flu, but if I do, I take Yin Chiao right away and it is gone in a day or so.</p>
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They’re now fully covered with no co-pay as preventive care under the new health care law.</p>