My employer is offering all employees and their immediate family free flu shots next week. I'll be there for sure.

Jodi-

I get my flu shot at Walgreen's every August...courtesy of Medicare. The sooner the better in my case. I've found that most health organizations are now recommending early vaccination, if possible.

Pekemom...I wouldn't wait another year to get the pneumonia vaccine. I received my first one at 62 when it first became available and took a booster five years later. Nowadays I don't think the booster is a necessary requirement but it was with the first produced vaccine. The protection from this particular vaccine is invaluable IMO and I'm rather surprised that your doctor put an age requirement on it.

Don't plan to.

Never had one, like Glenda, don't plan to. I think I've had the flu maybe twice in my life. Seems more of a risk to get a shot--especially from someone who isn't even a dr (I see they offer them at all sorts of places now--that don't have drs or nurses on the premises normally--so who's giving these shots?)

Dh gets one usually because his work offers them for free.

I have fibromyalgia too and have never ever had a reaction of any kind except for a sore arm. I had this year's shot two weeks ago and even my arm didn't hurt this time. I thought it was early but my Doctor said he got it the day before. I had the flu a few years ago that put me in bed for a month..never felt worse, so I never miss getting a shot. .

Not yet...I'm scheduled to have it at the doctor's office next month. I've had the flu several times--the shot is much better!

The three of us in this household had ours last week and never miss getting one. We're good doobies. :-)

We got our flu shots on Monday. My arm is still very sore but my husband said his wasn't sore at all. I'm glad they are giving them earlier because we are planning a trip and hate being cooped up in a germy plane for hours, so now I'm a little more protected.

I never tolerated the flu vaccine when it was a live vaccine. Since it's no longer "live"...I've had no trouble with it. I don't tolerate meds well at all and am allergic to many, including penicillin, so...being a non medicating diabetic, it's imperative that I stay as protected as possible. I've faithfully taken the shot every year for the last 10 - 12 years without incidence. Thank goodness.

Azzalea...those that administer the shot at Walgreen's are specifically trained [and licensed in this State] to do so. If they weren't...I wouldn't be giving them my arm either.

Anne, do you know when it stopped being live? I'd like to get it again if I could......I think I got that bad reaction in 2002.

You can check with your Dr, Susan...but the early 2000's sounds about right to me because that's the last time I had a really severe reaction to it, too. The other variable that we all need to remember is that the vaccine doesn't always prevent us from getting the flu but it will reduce the severity of it if we do contract it.
That's why it's important to get it as early as possible. I've been very lucky these last several years but I take other precautions, as well...washing my hands often, staying away from crowded areas when there's an outbreak in my geographic area, etc. I'm really not phobic. ;-) I just don't have anyone to take care of me and cat if I get ill...so I'm super careful.

Not yet, we'll wait till our clinic has flu shot clinic on a Saturday and they are set up to take everyone at once. They have all the records there and just sign in and get the shot and the insurance covers it all. Easy to do.

Usually get mine in November, but will be getting it earlier this year since the vaccine is available earlier now.

I always get mine at the local Emergicare. Don't need an appointment there, unlike the doctor's office, so I choose a nice weather day and do some shopping that day also.

I have had the flu twice. Once, after a month of being bed-fast, I went to my doctor. He asked me why I hadn't come in sooner and I told him I was too sick. And I was. Those were long before shots were available.

I also have had the pneumonia shot. No reaction from either one.

From the Mayo Clinic: This year's annual flu shot will offer protection against the pandemic H1N1 flu (swine flu) virus, in addition to two other influenza viruses that are expected to be in circulation this fall and winter.

I also heard Dr. Stork talking about hat on the news a couple days ago.

Sue

I wait till after my husband's Cancer Center (where he is employed)gives their employees theirs. At this time he has not heard when it will be offered to them. It is my understanding that here in Florida the flu usually arrives later than it does in other states. I have also heard that the length of time it offers the BEST immunity is 5 months so I usually wait till late October. I am not saying that anyone or everyone should wait - I think it depends on where you live and how early the flu shows up in your part of the country. I know it usually hits here the worst in late Jan. - Feb time frame. If the vaccine
had limited availablity I would go ahead and get it. I did make sure to do that with the H1N1 vaccine because I was taking care of my newborn Grandson and he could not get his till he was 6 months old, so if you are in that situation, then definitely get it as soon as you can.

The 1st District Health is giving them all over and we will get our in about 2 weeks. I loved going to the Senior Center about 2 years ago where the nurses were from the Health Dept. The senior center gave free donuts and beverages for all who came in. No refreshments this year. Different location.

I got mine Tues. I had a pnemonia shot last year, so didnt need one this year, the one year mine was due and didnt get the pnemonia one, i ended up in the hospital for several days and a several thousand dollar hospital bill with no insurance. Usually the flu shots around here are in late oct. or early nov. have never had one this early.

They are much earlier than before according to my doctor who said this new shot will give immunity into next spring/summer.

I don't do flu shots.

got mine at sam's club $20, and the person who did it was a registered nurse...the person who does the shots at our target is the pharmacist...he has cert to administer them...

When's the last time a doctor gave a shot? Around here it's always nurses and assistants that give them. The doctor didn't even give the injections to numb when I had some skin tabs removed! He waited outside while the assistant poked me - maybe he was afraid of needles? LOL

I've never had a flu shot. I've thought about it the past few years but a shot does *not* mean you can't get the flu. They don't have a crystal ball to tell what flu will be around, it's a guess at best and more often than not, they're guessing wrong. The pig flu required special innoculation. The past few years they've admitted they blew it so the flu shots that people were so proud of essentially were worthless for the big strains that were out there although they modified it as the year went on last year as I recall. So unless you got a second shot, you didn't have protection other than in your mind. People get a false sense of security getting flu shots. Many doctors admit that if you wash your hands regularly you'll do more to combat flu than a flu shot.

I'll likely pass on it this year too. I'm stocked up on soap and water and I refrain from exposing myself to a lot of the risks.

No - I don't get them. I'll consider getting one if I ever have the flu. I'm taking my chances that I may be miserably sick for a few days if I get it but that I won't die the first time. If I'm sufficiently miserable once I've had the flu that might influence me to get a flu shot.

I hope to get one next week even though I heard I could've gotten one last week. It does seem so early for them.

Flying to AZ in October so I'm thinking the vaccine would be a good idea now.

I will be getting one in a couple of weeks. I never used to bother with them until one year I had the flu so bad I thought I was going to die! (or wanted to!) Hope I never get it like that again! I get mine at Walgreen's.

Too late -- I came down with the flu over three weeks ago and it was horrible.

Bad fever and chills for days, body aches, coughing, coughing and coughing.

I sure wish I had gotten my vaccination.

I saw they were doing them at our Walmart too, at least a week or two ago. I have a Dr. appointment coming up in October an imagine she will be giving me mine then.

Petaloid, it's not too late to get one, who's to say you could only get the flu once this season?

They aren't available for employees yet but we have them for patients. We usually offer them on discharge.

Not yet, they always give me one at the hospital where I get my dialysis. Hospital workers and regular patients get them first. We are high-risk, tee-hee! And I'll get my hubby an appointment soon. We both had the one-time pneumonia shot years ago. Hey, having a chronic illness does have its' perks!

I never used to get the flu shot, as I was very seldom sick. Then my doctor said, "Well, if I were your age, I would certainly get one." So I have the past five years or so.

I just got mine on Wednesday. This is my 32 consecutive year! I don't miss it!!! But I have medical reasons, and it would put me in the hospital if I got it.

"They" say that the flu really doesn't go away anymore, too many people live in air-tight homes/apts and offices that only recirculate their air.

I will probably get mine today at a drug store. Medicare pays for mine. Like Sandy, I have gotten one every year for 30+ years. I usually worked in a medical setting and employees got them free. I volunteer at the hospital and if we don't get them, we have to wear masks.

I've faithfully gotten a flu shot for the past five years. Always came down with some strain of flu every single year.

I think I'll pass this year and see what I get.

Got mine yesterday.Seems like it is a little early.Well that's out of the way What's next?

I've never had a flu shot but my mom got hers yesterday at Walmart.