When do you get your Flu Shot

[PrincessV]

I'm in the "grey area": in the high-risk group advised to get the flu shot, but after multiple and increasingly severe reactions to the flu shot, my doc cut me off. I've asked if the potential benefit outweighs the risk, and the answer has been "No - wash your hands, avoid confined places with lots of of other people, and start a round of Tamiflu if anyone in your household comes down with the flu." <knock on wood> So far, it's worked. My son did get the flu a couple years ago and I immediately started Tamiflu... no flu for me.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I am a school teacher, so I work in a germ factory. I got my flu shot today!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Never and I work for a hospital where it's mandatory. Luckily I work in an admin suite so I technically don't have to get it but have to wear a mask if I'm ever in a patient area.

I find quite a few people still get the flu since it's not the right strain anyway. My kids don't get it either and neither has ever had the flu. *knocks on wood* they are 16 and 10.

 

[ronandannette]

I'll get my first one ever on Friday, I guess. It's a company-wide initiative with a public health nurse coming to the office to administer them. (The flu shot is free of charge to anyone over the age of 6 months in Canada.) Neither I nor anyone in my household has ever had the flu. I'm not a big believer in the shot as each year the report of the dominant strain never matches the vaccine.

 

[ten6mom]

I get them whenever my work does them for free.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I get the flu often, so I have started to get the flu shot. This is my 3rd one and I got it last month.

 

[LilyWDW]

I get mine tomorrow thanks to a clinic at work.

Why do I get it? I trust science.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

each year the report of the dominant strain never matches the vaccine.

That's not quite true. The vaccine in 2014 really missed the mark, but most years, the effectiveness generally runs around 60%. Again, not high, but certainly effective for protecting many people.

Even if the specific virus that you do manage to catch isn't included in the shot, the actual flu you get could be milder due to having antibodies for the other forms.

 

[Meriweather]

I always get mine in Aug.
Haven't had the flu since I started getting them years ago

 

[10MoreMinutes]

I got a flu shot once when I was in college and had mild flu-like symptoms for a couple days afterward. That was the only time I've had one and I'm 29 years old. I've had the flu exactly once, three years ago, so I'm probably not going to be getting another flu shot anytime soon.

 

[DVC-Don]

Got mine October 6. The PA said it would be three weeks until it kicked in. I had the flu back in March 1988 and thought I was going to die. Took me a good two weeks or more to get over it.

 

[Katie Dawn]

Yes, every year and this year I'll get it in 2 weeks.
Anecdotal stories shouldn't be your basis of evidence of whether or not they work. Since we're telling anecdotal stories, though, the only year I have ever gotten the flu was in 2014 when the shot was a poor match to the strains going around. It's my understanding that flu rates were way higher that year. Is that a coincidence? Or because the flu shot helps? I believe the scientific evidence that says it helps. I don't get the shot because I need it. I'm a pretty healthy person with a good immune system. I get it because I used to do home visits with little babies too young to get the flu shot, and for my friend who is pregnant and can't get the flu shot because of a severe egg allergy. I worry for her. I get the shot because we can all protect those who can't protect themselves.

 

[cleverclovers]

Columbus Day. I'm off work that day.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So true. I have a friend who is a nurse and it drives her crazy when someone says, "I have the stomach flu." The flu is respiratory, not stomach related. If you are having stomach problems, it's a stomach bug.

Well then she must have an issue with WebMD because they use the term stomach flu but list it as-stomach flu (gastroenteritis).

Stomach problems could also be food poisoning instead of gastroenteritis and in that case it's not a "stomach bug".

 

[Starwind]

I get the flu shot every year, usually around mid-October. This year the vaccines are late being shipped so flu clinics around here have not started yet.

I have had normal influenza twice (nearly hospitalized both times). I got H1N1 during the 2009 (?) pandemic, and when I was vaccinated months later when they finally had a vaccine I had an anaphylaxsis-like reaction to the vaccine.

I am considered high risk for complications from influenza thanks to existing medical conditions, so the government paid for my vaccinations even as a teen before they started universal influenza vaccinations.

SW

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I've never had the flu. And I never used to get the flu shot.

But then I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. And my doctor requires that I have it.

So, I generally get it in September. But this year, it was the beginning of October. The entire family gets the shot.

 

[lilia78]

I have asthma and a compromised immune system and am supposed to get the shot. But I don't. I received the shot once in 2008 and within three weeks I was hospitalized with influenza, it was confirmed with a blood test. Since then I have not received the shot and my doctor agrees that it is not a good idea for me.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I am getting it on Monday. My ds works in a hosp so who knows what germs he will bring home and my immune system is really bad since my cancer surgery. Once I get something its hard to get rid of it so I will be proactive.

 

[TCRAIG]

Never

Never had a flu shot and never had the flu

 

[Southernmiss]

Yesterday. Was at my annual well check. Don't always get the shot, but I had 2 colds in September (I rarely catch a cold) and thought I'd get the shot in case my immune system is off. So far no adverse reactions.