Flu Shots

[5ft Diva]

I'm curious what you all think about flu shots. I'm starting to hear and see advertisements for them. I have never received a flu shot and worry that I will become very sick if I get one. (My MIL had one administered to her one year and became very ill for a very long time.)

Can you tell me what your know about them and your opinions of them? How many of you have actually had one or know someone who has had one? What kind of an affect did it have on you/them?

[PhillyGirl]

I get one for my daughter every year. She has never had any complications or illness from it. I have had a few over my lifetime and have not gotten sick. I was actually surprised to hear that you MIL got sick from it; I have never heard of that. This is only my experience but I think it is so important to prevent illness as much as possible. I think my daughter picks up a lot of what goes around so if I can avoid the flu; great!

[natickgirl]

I never get flu shots, and neither do my kids. Occasionally, DH does. Guess who is the only one who ever gets the flu.....DH! And, he did get quite sick from the shot once. I figure it's not worth the price or the risk of getting ill. (Not to mention the trauma to DD2 who screams at the sight of a needle.) Also, flu shots only protect against one strain, and so health officials have to guess every year which strain will be the worst & that is the one they prepare the vaccine for. Even if you do get the shot, you're still vulnerable to get sick from every other strain of the flu. That's my 2 cents.

[bookworm]

I agree with NG- if it only protects against one strain, there's no guarantee.

We've gotten the shots in the past and had no complications, though, so I can't offer any opinion on that specifically.

The reason we haven't been getting them for the last few years is that at $20 a head, that's $120 for my whole family to get one! We usually have a good discussion about hygiene and remind them that schools are very germy places, so lots of hand washing will prevent any illness and leave it at that. Two of the boys did get the flu a few years ago, but no one has since, and hadn't ever before, so I guess I don't worry too much about it.

[5ft Diva]

Very interesting. Thanks for the feedback, ladies.

[jessicaabruno]

Originally Posted by 5ft Diva

Very interesting. Thanks for the feedback, ladies.

Same here and I'm torn on this still. As for me have only gotten it twice in my lifetime so far and haven't had ill affects has of yet. 1st time I felt I needed it because the yr before I was at school. Pretty much everyone got it and wanted to be included at the time. Of course they needed permission from my parent/s or doctor, can't remember which one. This past yr I had to get it because I had bronchitis, last feb. Was on antibiotics and some kind of syrup for it. After that had some GERD (Gastric Reflux) from everything. Was put on medication for that which is working. Believe thats it for now.

By the way my fraternal twin sister had the shot last yr and manage to get it after the season was over. This yr she didn't get it because her experience last yr.

[5ft Diva]

I think they still have a few bugs to work out still. Pardon the pun.