Did you/will you get a flu shot?

[bigbabyblues]

I got one for the second year. I didn't before, but the hospital I work for has made it all but mandatory, and it's not worth jumping through the hoops to get out of it.

That said, I work in an office setting in a separate building with about 20 other people, and I have no contact with patients or the public at work.

 

[lsyorke]

I got one because a guy walked by my office offering me one for free. If it hadn't been so easy, I probably wouldn't have bothered.

You took a shot from a "guy" walking around? I hope this was in a hospital!

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I normally wouldn't get a flu shot and not because I think it would make me sick. I just was never comfortable with the idea of a vaccine that was developed a few months before hand and may or may not be for the right strain of flu virus.

However with the H1N1 outbreak the hospital I work at decided to make it part of our employee contract each year. We either get the flu shot or we wear a mask from November-April.

I don't feel like wearing a mask for 8 hours a day so I unhappily get my flu shot.

 

[bdkane]

No Flu shot here- scared of needles... now ill get the Flu for sure!

 

[autumnpalm]

I work in a hospital with children so yes, I get the flu shot. I do it mostly to protect the patients and this year I doubt I would get it if I was not working with a high risk population.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Nope..never do

The vaccine is just a guess at whatever they think this year's strain will be and sometimes the guess can be waaay off (w/ efficacy as low at 30%).

I'm just not willing to chance the side effects of the adjuvants in the vaccine for a 30% chance that it will protect us.

If they can perfect their "guess" I'll think about getting them.

...and for those that get sick from the shot...yes it is a dead virus so it doesn't directly give you the flu, but the shot lowers your resistance so it may leave you susceptible to getting sick (or the flu) before the vaccine can kick in.

I agree. We do not get the flu shot here either.

 

[PatsGirl]

No. And I reject most offers (aka recommendations) of medications and immunizations that I believe in the end will only jeopardize our immune systems I would consider the flu shot only if I had an infant or elderly person in my home which I do not.

 

[Kellydelly]

Never had one, don't plan on ever getting one. I am an RN and there was a cart going around on my unit with the "innoculator lady" offering the vaccination this past week and she looked at me like I had two heads when I told her I wasn't interested. I have not had the flu in over 10 yrs, and even working in a hospital setting for the last year and a half I have not worried about getting the flu. If I had a compromised immune system I might consider it, but even having asthma doesn't make me want one.

 

[jenrose66]

DH and I got our shots on Monday. Our two boys got theirs today at their Dr's. office. DS12 got flu mist while DS15 opted for the shot. I get one every year, especially since I work in a special needs preschool class. The kids bring in every germ you can think of and many aren't good about keeping their fingers out of their noses and mouths. Before my boys started getting the shots, they would each spend a week or so out of school with the flu. Neither has gotten the flu since they started getting shots.

I have heard so many people saying they won't get the shot because it makes them get the flu. It's a dead virus and cannot cause the flu! Some people get colds or other viruses and mistake those for the flu when, actually, they had nothing to do with getting the shot.

Jenrose - Maybe your husband could get Flu mist instead of a shot? It's just like sniffing nose spray. My needle-hating 12 year old doesn't mind it at all.

I will look into that. I know that they offered the mist at my peds office for older DS but we declined because he is starting to show signs of asthma/allergies which is very prevelant on my side of the family. I didn't know that they offered that for adults. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Pakey]

No. I can't have one with pill form of chemo I've been taking for the past 4 years.

My husband has already gotten his this year. My doctor requires that he get it for my benefit.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I got mine about a week ago. Gave me an ENORMOUS bruise, but no other side effects.

DS14 is scheduled to get his on Tuesday, along with a tetanus booster that the school is REQUIRING. Apparently the 10 year mark of his last tetanus was in August and they are adamant about him getting a booster NOW. The pediatrician's office is also telling me he needs a Hep A vaccine but I am not going to make him have 3 shots in one day. He is in high school and he is busy, so the Hep A can wait until his next well-check in a couple of months.

DH is one that refuses to have the shot - ever - for any reason.

 

[Pigeon]

Nope. I don't see the point.

The annual media circus is entertaining though. First, if you do not get the vax today, you will drop dead from the flu.

A month or so from now, there will be a vax shortage, and only high risk groups should get the vax. Everyone else will do fine if they should contract the flu and should stop fussing about it.

Then three or four months later, the supply will catch up. If you didn't get the vax, you must go out immediately and get it or you will drop dead from the flu.

I rarely get the flu, but if I do, it's no big deal. And since the vax doesn't necessarily cover the strain of flu one might contract, I don't have much faith in it. Dh does get the vax and he's had the flu more often and worse than I've had it over the years the shot has been available.

 

[Pigeon]

Huh? Tell that to the tens of thousands of people that die from the flu each year.

I got one because a guy walked by my office offering me one for free. If it hadn't been so easy, I probably wouldn't have bothered.

And how many of those thousands have confirmed cases of the flu? Of that miniscule number, how many had the same strain that matched the shots?

 

[minnie56]

Yes!!! Had mine about 3 weeks ago...and also have my DPT booster every 10 years too!

I hate being sick! So-I won't

 

[princesspeach]

No they really pressure healthcare workers to get them even threaten to fire us. There is no evidence they work many people get sick after getting them. There just big money makers for Big pharma like a lot of the drugs they push that have bad side effects. God gave us great immune systems you don't need to inject that crap into your body just get plenty sleep, reduce your stress, exercise and eat healthy you will have a better chance of avoiding the flu.

 

[FireDancer]

I never get one. I just don't feel like I need it. My first line of defense is my immune system and I only resort to drugs (including vaccines) if my first line fails. It is just a personal choice. I would never tell anyone else not to get one, it isn't my business, just as my not getting one is no one else's business.

I'm also not anti all vaccines, just the ones I feel are unnecessary and the flu shot, for me at least, falls under that category.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Nope, not getting the shot. I never had a flu shot, and have no intentions of ever getting it. I just don't believe it would make any difference at all in my life. I just don't believe it would protect me from anything, and I doubt it would even work, since there are so many strains around. If I get the flu, I just deal.

I honestly don't even care about this at this point in my life. It's a non-issue to me.

 

[Geoff_M]

Yep, got mine Thursday at work!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Hubby & I are going tomorrow!

 

[livie1205]

Nope. Never had one and don't plan on starting. Didn't get the H1N1 last year and neither did my 10yo daughter. It is just a flu, it won't kill you, despite what people will have you believe.

H1N1 almost killed my son so I do believe.We all get our flu shots,even the h1n1 last year..my son got it before they came out.I get it every year,my dh is in L.E. and is in close contact with alot of people that do not take care of themselves and could bring it home to us.I have yet to get the flu since getting mine for the past 13 yrs.We get the live flu mist (even my 4 yr old) and have never had the least bit of problem with it.