I have gotten them for the last several years and have never gotten sick. I worked at an elementary cafeteria for 20 years and got sick 3-4X's a year from the kids, the flu shot helped with that not 100% but it helped. I never got barfy sick tho ever~~~~just all the cold and head stuff.

I always get mine at my senior center or a flu clinic at my med center free~~~

We got flu shots this year. It was the first time I'd gotten one, DH had them before.

For about a week afterwards, both DH and I had what felt like a very mild upper respiritory infection. Lasted exactly a week, and then we were fine. It seemed a small price to pay, if the shot prevents us from picking up the flu--which from all reports is horrible, and still on the rise in our area.

Would I recommend it? Not necessarily--everyone's different, has different tolerances. You'd have to find out if what bothered you about the pneumonia shot is also in the flu shot. And remember, it takes about 2 weeks for the shot to be fully effective. Have you discussed with your dr? I'd think you'd want to before getting any new shots since you had a problem with an immunization in the past.

Been getting them for years with no effect. Got the flu plus tetanus in Sept and was fine.

I would not go without it.

The flu shot can't give you the flu, though I understand that some people who get the live vaccine get mild flu-like symptoms. And some people get a terrible allergic reaction, which apparently hits within an hour or so and sounds bad.

I do get the flu shot every year, and never have a reaction worse than some swelling around the injection site. I have had the flu twice and it was just horrible. I had to have someone drive me home from work, which is only 10 minutes away, the last time, and barely made it to bed. And now I have Addison's disease, which means my immune system is compromised. I do what I can to protect myself.

I don't think it's fair to say that it's a crapshoot whether they pick the right strain. They're not always right, but they don't pick it out of thin air.

We've gotten flu shots the last 25 or more years, no side effects other than once in a while an achy shoulder for a day or two. We haven't had a respiratory flu in all that time either, the last time we both got flu was the last year we went without a shot. We generally try to plan them for October.

With a close friend in the business of our communities health (our senior public health nurse), it's impossible to forget :) We've had flu, tetanus/pertussis, pneumonia, and Hep A shots. DH has had the shingles vaccine and I just checked this week to see if I had coverage for it with my different insurance and I do, so will be arranging that sometime in the next few weeks.

They got the strain pretty close this year. It's 65% effective which is better than nothing. I had the flu twice when I didn't have the shots and thought I would die each time. Would never not get it.

No, we don't get flu shots.

I've only had one and that was a few years ago. And that year was the only year I've ever gotten the flu! Coincidence, I'm sure, but I'll take my chances. Since there's a shortage I would feel bad taking from someone who absolutely needs it.

I get it every year without any problems. When I worked as a nurse and got it at the health unit, the nurses there advised we take an aspirin every six hours for 24 hours. Sometimes I did but mostly I have not bothered with the aspirin.
We would have to sign a form saying we were not allergic to eggs. In the last few years when I have had it at the doctors there were no forms.

This post was edited by heather_on on Wed, Jan 16, 13 at 20:45

My husband gets his at work. He has always gotten one.
I started getting a flu shot when our granddaughter was
born with aortic stenosis 7 years ago. She and her little sister both get flu shots, I get one mainly to safe guard them.

No, we don't get flu shots
I wish I had this year, I've been sick for 3 weeks

Yes, I get the flu shots and my girls get the shots. No problems. Even little Alyssa gets flu shots. I always get my shot in my right arm and move it about a lot after getting my shot so never have a sore arm.

Sue

This post was edited by Marilyn_Sue on Wed, Jan 16, 13 at 18:15

There is no shortage of flu vaccine this year. I have gotten the flu shorts every year for at least 25 years and never had an adverse reaction. I have usually worked in health care settings and now I volunteer at my hospital where the flu shot is a requirement. I am a firm believer in getting every possible immunization to stay healthy. I had the pneumonia vaccine before my 65th birthday and then my doctor said I needed it again. I would never want to get that horrible flu again or give it to a child or another elderly person. I get my shot in September as soon as they start giving them out at drugstores. My neighbor said when she left the hospital after a broken hip, they would not discharge her without her having a flu shot.

I get one every year because I work in a hospital. I've also been sick with a respiratory virus of some kind for 6 weeks now. Only since this past Friday have I had a fever, though....so not sure what I've had...probably multiple viruses. I'd think I was getting better then wake up the next day with a bad headache, sore throat, chills, body aches. Spent all my vacation lazing around trying to get better. I get the pneumonia vaccine also. I need to find out when I had my last one because I can't remember now.

We get it every year and never have had any ill effects.

Pretty sure the pneumonia shot is a one time thing, same as the shingles shot.

I usually get the flu shot and have never had a reaction of any kind, other than a slightly sore arm for a day or so. Especially glad I got it this year.

DH and I are very glad we got our usual flu shot!

JoAnn23456 I assume you missed the part of my post that stated they do the best job they can with the info they have available early on! Which in no way said they picked it out of thin air. I have worked in the medical field, I certainly know better than that! However the strains hitting the Asian countries early are the guides for which they "suspect" will be the major strain hitting here, that is certainly not always correct, hence the crap shoot comment, which I of course didn't originate pertaining to this subject.

I too have multiple auto immune diseases and take many immune suppressing medications it may benefit me to take the shot but after ending up in the hospital extremely ill, I pass. Each person has extremely different makeup what works for one could kill another.

It's a shortage here. I know a number of people who have gone to multiple locations and can't find any in the last week or so.

I got mine last Friday. Other than a sore arm, no side effects. I heard that it was good for the flu that was going around this year.

No. I never get flu shots. I did get a tetanus shot a year or so ago. I am considering the shingles vaccine....but basically, I don't do vaccines. Was not vaccinated when I was a child either.

Sorry, Ravencajun. And if I'd had a bad reaction to the shot, I wouldn't get it, either.

I had mine in October...had the senior citizen strength....sore arm but that is all.
I have gotten flu immunizations for years and years because I worked in the health care field.
I have had Asian flu, years ago, and I cannot risk having it again due to asthma.
I know it is not guaranteed to prevent the flu but it it my best bet.

Pneumonia shots are every 5 years.

And as to the shingles vaccine--it has yet to be determined if one shot is enough. It hasn't been out long enough that they know for sure whether or not a booster will be needed down the road.

Re: flu vaccine shortages? Not around here, either--they're still pushing them at every supermarket, drug store, etc. And from what I've heard, it IS supposed to be pretty effective against this year's strain. Which isn't to say you can't get the flu, but if you do, it may be a lot lighter.

I'm curious--what type of shot did those of you who got the shot get? We'd made an appt. with one pharmacy--and an hour later, they STILL weren't ready to give us the shot. And they just then got around to telling us there was paperwork to fill out (really--couldn't we have been doing that in the hour we had to STAND while we were waiting?). And the pharmacist was wearing a dirty coat! We walked out at that point. But we saw the needle he used on the woman ahead of us--one of the regular long ones. The next day, we went to a pharmacy down the road--no appt. They took us right in, the place was clean, the staff super-professional, and they had the new, tiny 1/4" long) needles. Think we did better all the way around by going there.

I am sensitive to so many things that I won't get the flu shot. I did get the flu but it only lasted five days with no lingering effects like cough, respiratory or sinus infection or fatigue. I did cave and took a dose of Nyquil to help with the fever. I asked for it (the flu) though because I was only getting 5 hours of sleep a night that week.

I have had one for the past 2 years with no side effects.

It depends on everyone about getting a flu shot, many are so against it, many health poeple too won't take it at all.

I got it first time way back and I got sick, fever, etc. but then was fine.

I got the flu shot even though wasn't old enough as I was so prone to the bugs and they went straight to my respitory, I would be wheezing and coughing and couldn't stop, ended up on two inhalers.

And so the doctor said you can get a flu shot.

I heard to take a tylenol before you get your flu shot and so I started doing that and no reactions at all to it I had.

The only other time was both my dad and I got the flu shots too high up in the shoulder and it hurt alot and so told doctor after that, to not shoot me high up in the shoulder and no trouble then.

I get the pnuemonia shot every five years as you do renew it then as its not a one shot as so many think it is.

And the shingles, that is a great idea to do it, I asked the doctor for one but the only thing is they don't carry it and so you have to go to drugstore and then get your shot before an hour and so its got to be really planned out and so I have not gotten a shingles shot. And I am not a senior so can't get it at the drugstores when they do them or I would get one then.

The cost of a shingle shot here is two hundred dollars.

What I don't like if you do chose not to get a flu shot, then don't spread your bugs around at work or other places.

I heard that there is a huge shortage over on the mainland for flu shots and the health people are so sick and its a hazard as so many doctors got hit hard with it.

There have been deaths of seniors in long term care.

What's the senior citizen strength shot, Carol? I didn't know there was such a thing. I just always get the regular one in Sept or October.

Lily, there is a extra-strength flu shot made for people 65 and older this season, several people I know got it - My mom got it, my neighbor, my sisters husband with his heart disease. Peoples immune systems weaken with age, the higher dose is supposed to give over 65s a better immune response....optional whether you chose that one if you are over 65, your choice.

I live in Toronto. Same as heather_on if the shot is given at a flu clinic we have had to sign a form stating that we were not allergic to eggs. For the past few years I have had the shot at my doctor's office without any ill effects. I do wait the required 20 minutes post the shot before leaving. I get it because I am extremely sensitive to flu/cold meds and can't take anything. We used to have to pay $10 if not a senior or high risk, now it is "free" although we pay through our taxes. I have never had a tetantus shot - my father was very allergic and I am much like him. There is synthetic tetanus should the worst happen now. I asked my doctor at my physical in Nov. about the Shingles vaccine and she said demand was sort of 50/50 - and that often people whose insurance covered the cost would ask for it. Our provincial insurance does not pay for and neither does my husband's office plan - so not about to get it - and who knows what side effects that might give me - cost would be about $225.00 Cdn. or so I have been told? Funny though is that I can take penicillin - but not codeine, anti-histamine, decongestant - heck a Tylenol can cause problems unless it is the children's formulation. I can take Toradol and get it if needed but I have to be desperate to ask for it - say after a kidney stone adventure. I use it properly!

People often get a bad cold and call it the flu. Bad colds Re awful but they are not the flu.

I got a flu shot in December and now I have picked up a moderate cold. Having a flu shot doesn't stop you from getting sick. It protects you from the flu only.

Finally got mine today. DH got his back in Oct. and brought me the paperwork to fill out. I went to get mine but had pneumonia at the time so no shot then. Then came the holidays and paperwork got pushed aside. Decided today to finally go get it. Arm is a little sore but nothing else so far.

Kathleen, not only have I never had a flu shot, I have never had the flu. I had a cold this year for the first time in probably fifteen or more years. I'm not spreading bugs around, and since I am not around small children, I never get sick any more. When my daughter was little and in school, I volunteered, and I caught a cold every year.

I got mine today. I chose not to get the strong one that is for people 65 and older. I just turned 65 in November, and I decided that my body probably doesn't know the difference between my age now and what it was two months ago. The stronger dose is 4 times the antigen, and I was a little afraid of it. DH had a major reaction to the shot last year and almost died, so I wasn't going to get the shot at all--but the news reports kept getting scarier.

Just want to share a tip I learned from an immunization nurse a while back to minimize the chance of a sore arm post injection. You should focus on keeping your arm totally limp, because the injection is intramuscular, so if you are tense and the muscle is contracted, you are much more likely to hurt later. I think wet noodle when I get shots in the arm and have never had any soreness since.

We've been married for 42 years and get our shots every October. We got them even before we were married. We never had any ill effects from the shots, not even a sore arm.

the doc that was just on rachael ray says for sure for the very young and older people, if you're in health service, and group settings, or caring for an elder/child with health issues...

I get one every year, and they have never made me sick. The one time I did have the flu, I learned to get that shot. Won't go without it.

Have had flu shots frequently, never had any reaction at all.

Got mine over a month ago at the doc's. It takes about a week or two to achieve full capability.

Didn't ask him whether, having had lung clots a couple of years ago, and now being on Warfarin, would mean that lung complication disease might be more risky.

Picked up a cold the other day - when they say that "sharing" is a generous, kindly thing to do, I think that they don't include this, so avoided the old guys' coffee hour at church, and an appointment with my stockbroker on Thursday.

ole joyful

I've never had one, but this season scares me so I broke down and overcame my fear of needles to get one.

From the CDC today:

"Director Frieden did note that, in seasons when H3N2 is the predominant strain, this season for example, seasonal influenza always takes the heaviest toll on seniors.

The CDC estimates that 90 percent of flu-related deaths are in people 65 and older.
He also reported nine additional pediatric fatalities last week, bringing the total to 29 thus far.

Likely in response to last weeks statement that the 2012-2013 influenza vaccine has shown to have an overall vaccine effectiveness of 62 percent, he closed by saying, "I want to close my remarks by reminding everyone that although the flu vaccine is far from perfect, it's by far the best tool we have to prevent influenza. You can still protect yourself through vaccination."

Everyone at work is dropping like flies - young people too. Yep, I'm glad I got one. No side effects at all - the vaccine is not live virus.

This post was edited by tally on Sat, Jan 19, 13 at 13:17