2015-16 Flu shot

Get them here and free if you're in an at risk group - ie health issues. Otherwise they're about £10 ($15) at most pharmacies. I get mine free, Mrs GC pays for hers. Due to get ours any time now.

Flu Jab | NHS and Private - Book Now - Boots

 

Never get mine until December, because, while I have had the flu at least half-a-dozen, if not more times over 60 years, I always get it in February through March. Getting it this early means no real protection by late winter.

Having said that, I boycotted them around, what 2004 or so when the US went through this whole "we ain't got any vaccine," and "oh, btw, it really is not all that great for those under 65 (or something like that)."

Only went back to them two years ago when wifey pestered me to death about it.

 

In Canada, I've been getting the shot for maybe 7-8 years now. This year even the proponents are saying it's not a good match for what's coming, not encouraging.

For the general public the shots are not free, something like $20-30? But there's a lot of loop holes to help wrangle a freebie, say you've got a lotta contact with kids and/or elderly, for example.

 

I usually don't get a flu shot based on the established scientific fact that in numerous Zombie or Plague movies it is always the seemingly harmless and helpful injection that turns the majority populace into menacing Zombies or Plague infected carriers of death.

Therefore my embracing of fiction, saves me about $15 dollars a year, even if it does mean I stay home for a week wrapped in a blanket watching episodes of The Walking Dead.

I highly recommend most people DO NOT DO as I DO.

 

I get an annual flu shot for three reasons:

1) I hate shots, I really dread getting poked with that needle (nobody enjoys it right?,,,,,,,or do they?)
So I force myself to get a flu shot every year as a reminder to my stupid brain that it's not as terrifying as it
makes it out to be.

2) Getting the flu is much worse than getting a flu shot even though my arm typically hurts for a day or two after getting punctured.
I've had an instance when the flu lasted three weeks. I don't EVER want to go through that again.

3) I run about 75 miles per month - most days I run three miles, sometimes six. I can't afford to get the flu. I'm always striving
for new personal bests in the 5K and a serious case would set me back weeks if not months from achieving the next one.

Maybe it's just a coincidence but I haven't had the flu once since I started getting flu shots four years ago, I think Before that, it seemed I didn't make it through the winter without at least a mild case.

 

'they' are always warning about the flu to end all flu's and how the shot probably won't cover it.

 

I used to didn't have a choice.
Well.....actually, as a CPO sometimes they let me pick which arm they injected their evil brew into, but that was it.

Since I'm now a retired squid, I'm free to choose, however the shot's not free (yet) but $20 is free enough, so I get them regularly. I also plan to get some others in the near future to keep my inoculations current and to add some new ones (whooping cough and shingles.)
My clinic will combine all of them into one $20 co-pay so why not?
Well.....other than getting the shots....
I'm guessing that inoculations are good exercise for the old immunity system, even if science has a hit/miss record of developing a vaccine that's effective against whatever flavor of bug is beating out the others this year.
The fact that I very rarely ever get any kind of crud, and when I do it's usually over with in 24 hours stems from something, and it's either the 3,256 injections that I got in my 32 year career - or it's because I'm in the deep end of the gene pool, or proper hand-washing, or lack of popularity with my peers....or something in the water.
So far my beloved granddaughter hasn't slimed me (yet) either - and she's at that sloppy kiss stage.

So....if you always do what you always did.....
You'll always get what you always got!!

I'll keep getting the shots.

 

I get 'em. For many years the only sick day I had at work was the day after the swine flu shot of 1976 but that was a special case normally I do not get a reaction.

 

As we get older, vaccines are less effective, so I got a pneumonia shot a few years ago to hopefully let it sink in better. But it's a little stupid the insurance does not cover some shots until you are 65 as it would be better to get them say at age 60.

 

This is the same reason why I get mine now. There's flu and there's FLU. When you've had the long lasting, hard hitting variety where you do genuinely start to wonder if you're gonna pull through, you realise a flu shot isn't that bad.

 

I take high dose vitamin D3 instead of flu shots. Current research shows that most everyone has less than optimal vitamin D, resulting in an immune system that is less than fully functional. My take on the research is to consume 5000 IU per day for about 3 months, get a blood test, and adjust the supplementation as necessary to achieve a blood level of 40-60 ng/mL (100-150 nmol/L outside the US). The science is available at GrassrootsHealth | Vitamin D Action - GrassrootsHealth | Vitamin D Action , associated with the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. Another good place to get the latest science on vitamin D is Vitamin D | Vitamin D Council | Providing information on Vitamin D

Due to medical politics, I think GrassRoots says 4000 IU, but the important measure is the blood level achieved. People vary widely in how much supplemental vitamin D is required to reach a particular blood level. Personally, I take 20,000 IU of D3 per day, plus 300 mcg of K2 (MK-7) and monitor my blood calcium level. YMMV, but it works for me.

Most multivitamins contain 400 IU, adequate for bone health but useless to achieve the myriad other benefits of adequate vitamin D. And take it daily - weekly/monthly/annually(!) doesn't provide the full benefits.

I've never had a bad case of the flu in the last 9 years while on high D. The few instances of starting to get sick have been truncated by taking 3 grams of liposomal C every few hours until skipping a dose didn't backfire. Maybe 2 days of feeling low, and another few days of a cough without any other symptoms.

 

Same here. I got the flu ONCE really bad, felt sore and achy down to the bones and joints, like I had been run over by a semi. Lasted at least a week. I never want to go through that again.

If the shot makes the next bout less miserable, count me in!

 

we aren't offered different flu shots, you either want one, or you don't. no idea which it is.

 

Ask....

 

My work gives them out for free so I get them every year. I mean they literally come to the conference room 25 feet from my cubicle. I'd have to be an idiot not to do it. Surprisingly, 75% of my coworkers do not which means it is more vital I do get the shot. Their usual reason not to is what OP said. They got a little sick afterwards one time. I guess they've never gotten the full blown flu to compare to a little weakness the next day.

My doctor also cares so much about it he does flu vaccines for free. Or charges my insurance. I don't know, I don't pay for my wife either. But it is a little more annoying to have to make an appointment.

 

More than a few people at work have noticed how many people that have had their shots get the flu each year, knowing full well I never get them, and never have the flu. The other guy that never gets shots had it once about ten years ago. My last bout was sometime back in the mid 80's.

 

Ugh, shots...
Incredibly, it's as simple as a tongue scrapper lots of room temp water and no complex sugar