Never had a flu shot -- you?

[CowboyCO]

Nobody in my family has ever had a flu shot. We have also never had the flu. As a family, we are all generally very healthy. Other than the odd cold, we just don't get sick much. Once or twice in the last ten years, we've gotten norovirus (stomach flu) as a family, but there's not much you can do to prevent that once one person has it.

I just don't really see the need to get a flu shot. Kids are 9 & 7, we're in our late 30, early 40s, so we're outside the high risk areas. Am I being stupid in not getting a flu shot? I've heard about people actually getting the flu from the shot, or getting it anyway despite the shot. What do you think?

 

[RitaE]

don't get the shot - never had the flu

My husband had the flu a couple of years ago, but he still chooses not to get the shot.

 

[Disneefun]

We are like you -- generally very healthy, rarely sick. Yet we do get the shots every year, for 2 reasons. First, I don't want the flu. While I might rely on my health to get me through the season, the fact is you don't know who you'll come in contact with and if your system is down (stress, a cold, etc.) you might not be able to fight it off. I don't want it, and I don't want to have to take the time to recover from it, so I get the shot to be safer.

The second reason I get it is because I am around my parents (and a few other elderly people) who are of age to fall into the risk group. I don't want to risk giving it to them. They get their shots, but still, better safe than sorry. I don't want to be the transmission vehicle that brings it to them.

I've never gotten the flu from the shot and I don't know anyone who has. Never had any sort of reaction to it all, other than a slightly sore spot on my arm (for a day or so) where the shot goes in. If you get the flu in spite of the shot it's usually b/c a new strain has arrived that the shot doesn't cover. But I have heard from my doctor that, if you got the shot but get one of the new strains anyway, it's likely to be far less severe and last less time than if you didn't have the shot at all. I think it's worth it to get the shot. Peace of mind, anyway.

My insurance pays for it so it's completely free for me. Even if I had to pay the copay I still think it's worth the risk. It just goes under the heading for me of "Better safe than sorry."

 

[tonilea]

We ALWAYS get our flu shots. DH is a police officer, so no telling who/what he will contact.

 

[jlparedes]

I've almost always gotten the flu shot and I'm rarely sick. It was a mandatory thing while I was in the Navy and so when I got out back in 2000, I just kept getting it. I also take DD for her shot as well. Her daycare provider's 3 kids have each had the flu twice this year and my daughter didn't get it from them either time. We both have the sniffles right now, which is typical for us this time of year when our weather starts changing. We are going this week for flu shots and will continue to get them. I believe it's a decision you make for yourself and your family and you do what you think is best for you. My brother does NOT get them and neither does his fiance and son, but they seem to be more sick then we get. I honestly think it's what you are put in contact with and not necessarily the shot that makes you get sick.

 

[MusiqChic99]

I've never had one and my DH never has either. We have gotten the flu but nothing a day off from work didn't cure. We take care of ourselves and don't find ourselves ever really that sick. My son is 2 and has never had one either. He's never been that sick either. He had an ear infection last year and that was his first time he had medicine.

I have nothing against flu shots. I just dont get them!

 

[HeatherC]

I took my 3 kids yesterday for theirs. Reason being....we go to Disney over February break and no way are they getting the flu that week!!!

We actually all had it really bad a couple of Christmases ago and it just ruined the day. Everyone sick and throwing up. It was horrible that whole week. After that I decided they were getting it and so far it's been great.

I'm a SAHM so I don't get it....just use my antibacterial gel whenever I'm out shopping or such.

Hope all stay healthy!

 

[kellig]

After getting the flue twice in one month....I get the flu shot every year! That 104 fever, throwing up, aches, and every other crudy feeling imaginable (that lasted 5-7 days each time) are not something I want to go through again!

DH also had the flu in between my two bouts that year, but refuses to get the shot. He obviously did not have the dillusions that came with my HIGH fever!

DD7 also gets the shot every year - she has horrible allergies and has always been high risk, so she gets it too.

We have never had any side effects, etc from the shot other than soreness where given in the arm.

 

[HGD24]

From the time I was a young child, I would get the flu at least once a year and it was never a mild case. In 2000, I got my first flu shot and have gotten one every year since then - and haven't had the flu since then either! I also have adult on-set asthma so that puts me in a high risk group. DH doesn't get the flu, or if he does, it's very mild so he hasn't gotten the flu shot - until this year. He got one this year because we have an infant inthe house and he doesn't want to expose her to it. She'll be getting the shot too since she's at a daycare center with about 80 other kids.

The reason some people get the shot and still get the flu is because the shot is made to fight off what researchers believe will be the most contagious strain(s) that year. You could get the shot and be exposed to a different strain that is not part of the shot and therefore, get the flu.

If your family is generally healthy, I see no reason to get it.

 

[bellebud]

we started getting them when dd9 was little and she was getting 106 fevers w/ every illness and getting seizures. she got the flu 2 -3 times for 2 winters straight. we don't want to bring it in the house, so we all get them. She's over her super high fevers (we hope!), but the few people I know who have had the actual FLU, thought they were on their deathbeds (healthy young adults), it's *that* bad if you get it. I don't see the downside to getting the shot, so we get it. We also travel in the winter, and I'd rather have a chance at us not being sick or as-sick during our travels. Case in point - last january, we flew to the florida keys from NY - 2 days before we go, ds gets a flu-like sickness - ped puts him on the prescription flu medication (i forget the name), wipes out this illness w/in a day (but he has to be on the meds for a week). We get to the keys, dd starts w/ the symptoms, ped calls in same flu med., she's better in 6 hours. Ped really feels the flu shots plus the flu med made them both kick the illness like that. (he only prescribed the flu med because we were going on vacation, he said otherwise he'd have wanted the kids to just rest). We're cruising out of NJ this January for 9 days cool1: ), I'm going to ask ped for the prescription flu meds to take just in case (we've also gotten the shots) - don't know if he'll do it, but I'm going to beg! I wouldn't think they'd have those flu meds on the ship (but maybe i'm wrong).

anyway, i sort of wish everyone would get the shots - i think people would be a lot less sick (especially in the schools and workplaces) over the winter.

 

[Brer Shay]

DH is a teacher and either gets the flu shot or suffers a bout of flu each year. More years than not, I get one also, but usually feel lousy for about 12 hours. I debate back and forth about the kids getting it - some years I do, some I don't. Our middle child tends to catch it yearly, so she is likely to get it. DS is never sick, outside of allergies. We'll see how things go with our youngest in school this year.

 

[jsmith]

We actually all had it really bad a couple of Christmases ago and it just ruined the day. Everyone sick and throwing up. It was horrible that whole week. After that I decided they were getting it and so far it's been great.

I'm a SAHM so I don't get it....just use my antibacterial gel whenever I'm out shopping or such.

you do know that a flu shot is for respitory flu-not stomach flu? and antibacterial gel will not kill viruses-so it wont prevent either?

I have had influenza-and so have both of my sons-one was hospitalized with pneumonia at 15 months-the other missed two weeks of school in 8th grade-i was out of work for a week and a half. Healthy not high risk people die of flu every year. yes i get a flu shot-my husband is in the miitary he has to-but we all do it anyway.

 

[pjb0216]

The two DS's and I always get the flu shot, but my DH never does! This year within 24 hours of us getting the shot, all three of us were sick with terrible colds. My DH swears it is the shot. I am sure it is the waiting room full of sick kids when we went in to get the shot!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I work w/preschoolers so I always get my flu shot. DH gets a free one at work every year.

I started getting them for our boys 2 years ago (they're 13 and 10). They used to each spend at least a week at home with the flu. Since getting the shot, they rarely need sick days from school. They might get a cold or two, but never the flu.

And it's a myth that you can get the flu from the flu shot. It's a dead virus in the injection. It cannot cause the flu. It's possible to get a few mild side effects while your body builds the immunities. My arm is usually sore for a day or two. You can also get a low grade fever and mild body aches. But you're not actually going to get the flu. And any side effects are a lot better than getting a full-blown case of the flu.

 

[jfoofj]

I never get the flu shot, and I work in a hospital. The flu shot isn't effective against every strain of the flu, in fact, the track record of the makers of the flu shot getting it right each year isn't that great... not their fault, but they have to make the vaccine a year ahead of each flu season and you can't always predict what strains will be prevalent each year. If the flu strain that comes through your area isn't the one you were vaccinated against, it offers you no protection.

The major reason I don't get the flu shot, though, is that years ago my cousin became ill with Guillian-Barre syndrome right after having a flu shot. I have also seen a couple of cases of this in the hospital I work in, though not many, and always women, who become ill with Guillian-Barre with days/weeks of a flu shot. My cousin and I both have an autoimmune disorder, and some research points towards a link between autoimmune disorders and Guillian-Barre after a flu shot. It is not a risk I am willing to take... I'll take my chances with the flu.

I don't mean to be an alarmist, and I absolutely believe in vaccines, but I ALWAYS research it and talk to my doctor before blindly rolling up my sleeve and injecting something into my body. So many people think that just because they got a flu shot they won't get the flu and it isn't true at all. Your best defense against the flu is good old fashioned hand washing and wiping down surfaces with disinfectant wipes!

 

[pearlieq]

Your best defense against the flu is good old fashioned hand washing and wiping down surfaces with disinfectant wipes!

Handwashing, 100% yes!!! So much disease transmission can be stopped by just being dilligent about hygiene.

People need to be much more careful with wipes. You need to read the package and follow the instructions exactly. A lot of them specify that the surface must stay wet for 30 to 60 seconds for the product to kill germs and viruses.

If your just swiping one or two wipes across your whole kitchen, you're very likely not getting the protection you think you are.

 

[KristinU]

I usually get the flu shot every year, except last year...and last year I got the flu - the real flu, influenza...it was so horrible, and I really realized how elderly people, young children, and folks with already compromised immune systems can die from it.

And even though last year's flu shot missed the mark and I probably would have gotten it even with the shot, I decided that I'll always get the shot from now on - if I can minimize the chance of ever going through that again I will.

I'm also being uber-diligent about hand washing this year!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

I am high risk and my mom is high risk, so yes - we get them every year. My mom has had cancer twice, so her immune system is horrid and I have severe asthma problems this time of the year.

Luckily, my office does them for free, so I took advantage of that this year. They make me feel awful for a few hours afterwards though. I'm one of those people that fall in the category where it can make you feel like you have the flu after taking the shot. But, I'd rather FEEL like I have the flu for a few hours than actually get it and end up straight in the hospital!

 

[Nette]

I never get the flu shot, and I work in a hospital. The flu shot isn't effective against every strain of the flu, in fact, the track record of the makers of the flu shot getting it right each year isn't that great... not their fault, but they have to make the vaccine a year ahead of each flu season and you can't always predict what strains will be prevalent each year. If the flu strain that comes through your area isn't the one you were vaccinated against, it offers you no protection.

The major reason I don't get the flu shot, though, is that years ago my cousin became ill with Guillian-Barre syndrome right after having a flu shot. I have also seen a couple of cases of this in the hospital I work in, though not many, and always women, who become ill with Guillian-Barre with days/weeks of a flu shot. My cousin and I both have an autoimmune disorder, and some research points towards a link between autoimmune disorders and Guillian-Barre after a flu shot. It is not a risk I am willing to take... I'll take my chances with the flu.

I don't mean to be an alarmist, and I absolutely believe in vaccines, but I ALWAYS research it and talk to my doctor before blindly rolling up my sleeve and injecting something into my body. So many people think that just because they got a flu shot they won't get the flu and it isn't true at all. Your best defense against the flu is good old fashioned hand washing and wiping down surfaces with disinfectant wipes!

That's EXACTLY why I don't get the shot. Had Guillian Barre (Well actually a very closely related version... I got the version that lasts for years.) I'll take my chances on getting the flu, thanks. But I am also a healthy 30 something woman, and I'm not really that concerned about it. A guy at work has an infant with a severe heart birth defect, and if that was me, I might risk my health to preserve my child's...

 

[mom2aredhead]

The major reason I don't get the flu shot, though, is that years ago my cousin became ill with Guillian-Barre syndrome right after having a flu shot. I have also seen a couple of cases of this in the hospital I work in, though not many, and always women, who become ill with Guillian-Barre with days/weeks of a flu shot. My cousin and I both have an autoimmune disorder, and some research points towards a link between autoimmune disorders and Guillian-Barre after a flu shot. It is not a risk I am willing to take... I'll take my chances with the flu.

My friend's dad became ill with Guillian-Barre, was in a coma on a ventilator and eventually passed away. They cannot confirm or deny that it was related to the flu shot he had just before becoming ill. But after watching what that family went through for so long, I'll take my chances with the flu. Ditto for my husband and son...no flu shots for any of us.