I was just curious...do you get the flu shot each year?
Today was the first time I have ever got one. My doctor said I should have it because my immune system is probably down with everything I have been going through with my dad and all. And since I do work as a bartender and waitress I can come in contact with alot of germs during flu season.
My DS 14 and DD 8 also got theirs today.

Also for anyone who gets them yearly. Is there any side effects besides the redness and little ache where the shot was given.

Thanks

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 08:06 pm:

I have never gotten one, neither have my kids. I"m thinking about getting it this year, since I'm working in the school cafeteria and outside at recess.

By Debbie on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 08:09 pm:

We get one each year. Since my youngest has asthma and reflux, his doctor always suggests we get one. The only year we didn't get one, we all got the flu! Both my dks and I got it. It was horrible!!! We were all sick for over a week, and nothing helped. My youngest had such a hard time. It totally flared up his asthma and reflux. So, I now swear by the flu shot.

I have never had any side effects, except what you mentioned. I just always take an Advil the day of the shot, and I am fine.

Oh BTW, thanks for reminding me to make an appt. to get ours!

By Mrs_B on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 08:14 pm:

The kids and I haven't ever had one. DH gets one every year, thanks to the Corps. LOL

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 08:58 pm:

I'll be getting one at work. I have for the past several years. Last year Sarah got one at school, and Gary got one at work. Emily was the only one I was on the fence about and I never made her get one. Perhaps I should make her get one.

Since I work in a clinic and I'm on the front lines for that sort of thing, it's highly suggested.

By Hol on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 09:29 pm:

We get them every year. I have asthma and I had a real bad case of pneumonia one year as a complication of the flu because I hadn't gotten my shot. Flu can be fatal and frequently is to people with compromised immune systems and the elderly. We have never gotten any side effects, other than soreness at the injection site for a day or two. I, too, work in a physician's office, and am exposed to germs.

I wish that my DD could have one because she is an ER nurse. However, she has rheumatoid arthritis and has to take Embrel. Since that lowers your immune system, she cannot get the shot, and she is exposed to everything on her job, as well.

Our local hospital has flu shot clinics throughout our community, at different sites such as libraries and churches. If you have health insurance, most plans will pay for it. The boys and I just got ours today, and DH got his yesterday.

By Cat on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 10:43 pm:

Hol, my mom has RA and takes Embrel. She still got the shot.

We all got one this year. I haven't gotten one for probably 5 years, but dh got one last week and said since the kids are under 18 and I work with kids we are all in the "high risk" category. I haven't gotten the flu for probably 3 or 4 years. We'll see what happens this year.

My arm is a little tender where I got the shot. A funny-but not really--as we were pulling out of the parking lot of the dr's office after getting our shots Robin reaches over and punches Randy's shoulder and yells, "Punch buggy!" Randy yells, "OWE!!!" Yep, he'd punched him right where he'd just gotten the shot. I told the boys no punch buggies for a couple of days. :P

By Jackie on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 05:53 am:

My kids get the flumist every year. The dr said the flumist covers more strains of the flu then the shot. I only get the flu shot if I happen to be at the drs office during that time of the year. I did get it two years in a row, but didn't get it this year.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 06:23 am:

I've gotten the flu shot annually since 1991, when my parents moved in with me and I didn't dare risk exposing them if I got the flu. For the last two years my employers have made this an employee benefit, bringing in a nurse to give the shots. I had some redness for day, no swelling.

The CDC recommends that all children under the age of, I think 5 or 6, get the flu shot unless there are medical reasons not to - because the effects of flu can be much more dangerous for young children.

I've only had the flu twice in my life, and hope never to have it again. Which is why I get the shot.

By Karen~admin on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 08:55 am:

yes

By Tarable on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 10:16 am:

My kids also get flumist if it is availiable because shots are not liked by them. I get a shot but it is only my 2nd year in a row to get one. All of our drs suggest that if they are available to get one because the flu seems to be worse lately.

By Joy~bundles on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 01:32 pm:

My company also provides free flu shots every year, so I've had one for the past few years. Usually, just redness/tenderness at the injection site, but a couple years ago I actually felt a lot of malaise and sleepiness the following day. I don't know if it was related or not, but I recovered and was back to normal the next day.

By Kaye on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 07:27 am:

Okay well I am in the minority here...we don't get the flu shot here. I did when I taught, I got the flu anyway..LOL. Also one other year I got it and ended up with a horrible flu. The only 2 times in my life I have had it. I know it is just a fluke, but still. With my kids, one of them had the something I think once, but you had to go back for a second dose and then they didn't have it.

By Enchens on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 11:03 am:

Cat-OUCH!

Dh gets cornered at work, literally, and gets his. They require it at his work and they actually have a nurse "hunt down" the employees that haven't shown up.

My boys have gotten it every year. I'm sure this year is no different. I just have to take them in.I'll probably make the appointment for next Friday.

Last year, I got the shot to help show my boys it was ok. NEVER AGAIN! I don't know why, but I nearly passed out. I started to lose my hearing and then my vision went. I don't know if it was related to the shot or not, but I'm not taking that chance again. Thankfully there were three nurses in the clinic attending us. They did a great job keeping my boys unaware and a great job helping me.

By Kate on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 11:23 am:

We've never gotten the flu shot and never will. I had to fight my ob/gyn when I was pregnant as he insisted I needed it in my condition. No way, we're very anti vaccine here.

By Cat on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 11:51 am:

Nancy, when I was in the military is was required. They'd hunt us down if we hadn't gotten one yet. Dh just retired a few years ago and with the job he had they weren't quite as strict, but for the general population in the military, they watch that sort of thing.

Kate, I have a friend who is very anti-vaccine, too. I totally understand and respect that belief. At the same time the flu is getting scarier every year and I figure the shot can't hurt.