# Did you get your flu shot? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 14, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550 "2003-01-14T18:05:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/1 "2003-01-14T18:05:56Z")
I heard on the news today that 3 times as many people will die from the flu virus than from AIDS this year. That’s pretty damn scary. I never think to get a flu shot - well last year I thought about it, but my doctor was out of them cuz I waited too long. Does everyone get flu shots? I thought it was just for the elderly, young and health care workers. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/2 "2003-01-14T19:16:45Z")
So did I. I got one this year because I’m living in the college dorms, and they were advertising them like crazy. Only 7.50. So I figure that since I’m probably going to be sharing space with germ ridden freaks, I might as well protect myself. Plus, I did have the flu last year in March and I do NOT want to go through that hell again. If I weren’t in college, I probably wouldn’t bother with it (I never did before), but it would be nice to avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/3 "2003-01-14T19:31:31Z")
I didn’t. I meant to, since I’m also on a college campus this year and I’m sure I’ve been or will be exposed to the virus. Unfortunately, I didn’t, so I’m taking other precautions to try to minimize my exposure - making sure that my hands are washed regularly and the like. ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/4 "2003-01-14T19:39:31Z")
I got mine and made sure my grandparents got theirs… I get one because I fall into the “high risk” category since I have a kidney disease. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/5 "2003-01-14T19:39:58Z")
Well, I didn’t and right this minute I have a horrible sore throat, my nose is a disgrace, my eyes are dry and I feel as if I have been beaten with a pool cue. I walk around ringing a bell while crying “Unclean! Unclean!” ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/6 "2003-01-14T20:16:01Z")
I got one because I was directed to. I get one almost every year, and I rarely get sick. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/7 "2003-01-14T20:44:41Z")
Yup, I got one. Reason: I’m prone to develop respiratory infections like pneumonia and bronchitis, which are some of the “extras” that arrive as the flu subsides. I wouldn’t bother otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/8 "2003-01-14T20:59:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LouisB \* > \*\*Well, I didn’t and right this minute I have a horrible sore throat, my nose is a disgrace, my eyes are dry and I feel as if I have been beaten with a pool cue. > > I walk around ringing a bell while crying “Unclean! Unclean!” \*\* _tosses some alms to **LouisB** _ I didn’t get one this year, and haven’t gotten one as far back as I can remember. And I hope I don’t jix myself by posting in this thread (hopefully the alms will ward off any bad karma), but I haven’t been sick this winter. The worst I had was last week when I started to feel gross, slept for about 24 hours and drank a lot of water. I’ve also been washing my hands a lot and keeping my gloves on when I have to hold the dirty poles on the train (I usually take one glove off the flip the pages of whatever I’m reading). ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/9 "2003-01-14T21:09:15Z")
The company provides it gratis to anyone who wants. Doesn’t do squat against colds, and there haven’t been any vicious outbreaks in my area for several years, but it’s not like I’m going to get autism or anything from it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/10 "2003-01-14T21:17:55Z")
I got one at work for free and I’d get one where ever I had to because I have asthma and thus have more risk. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/11 "2003-01-14T21:18:26Z")
Heck yeah, I did. I’m diabetic, and this is the first year that I got it. One poke in the arm for the flu, and one in the other arm for pneumonia. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/12 "2003-01-14T22:37:46Z")
Yep, I get one every year. I’m diabetic, prone to lung infections, and have other medical problems. So I make sure to “reserve” one with my doc. I’ve also had a pneumonia shot, and I must say that winters are MUCH nicer without worrying about that particular problem. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/13 "2003-01-14T23:05:03Z")
Yep. I get one every year for free where I work–though I would certainly pay for one if I had to. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/14 "2003-01-15T01:00:16Z")
Laura was in charge of dispensing the flu shots this year, so I rolled up my sleeve. We’re Labor and Delivery RNs on a super busy floor in a big hospital and getting the flu and being out for days on end is not an option. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/15 "2003-01-15T01:17:03Z")
Yea, last October. School gives it for free to students. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/16 "2003-01-15T06:03:24Z")
I got a flu shot this year for the first time because they offered it free at work. I hadn’t thought about it until I opened this thread, but this has been a great year for not getting flus AND colds for me - knock wood, of course. I know the flu vaccine isn’t supposed to make much of a difference against the cold virus, but maybe when your body isn’t fighting on two fronts, you do better against the cold bug. I would definitely get the shot again. ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/17 "2003-01-15T06:04:27Z")
Hell. No. Don’t need it, don’t want it. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/18 "2003-01-15T15:45:00Z")
Didn’t get the shot although the wonderful Canadian public health system picks up the tab. Got the 'flu. Colour me embarassed. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/19 "2003-01-15T15:49:36Z")
I’ve gotten them on and off in the past, but I can’t remember the last one. It was within 5 years, but that’s as close as I can get. I’ve got my annual checkup scheduled in 2 weeks - I’ll talk to the Dr about it then. I’m not in any of the risk groups and there hasn’t been any talk of an outbreak around here, so I’m not too concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-get-your-flu-shot/148550/20 "2003-01-15T16:21:41Z")
I got one, because I work in a hospital, and they were free… Probably wouldn’t have bothered, if I weren’t in one of the [Steve Irwin]Danger, danger, danger![/SI] groups. Betch the next big vaccination question will be “Did you get your smallpox shot?”… Ugh.