Flu Vaccination?

A friend stated she and her husband no longer get the flu shot because a number of years ago, he was sick after getting it. A flu shot making one ill demonstrates just how susceptible one would have been to the strains in that year's shot. People are often ill the initial year, then less so in subsequent years.

Even though the shot covers only a few strains, it gives some enhanced immunity to the others, meaning should you catch one, it will be milder. Thus the shot reaction declines each year.

Influenza kills an estimated 36,000 people in the US each year, and hospitalizes over 200,000. Although no one probably keeps stats, it seems reasonable those who succumb are those who didn't get the shots for whatever reason.

Consider, too, that one is contagious for a few days before manifesting symptoms, and will probably pass on the flu. If the recipient of those days is someone dear who then succumbs--or even someone you don't know who succumbs, how would you feel?

Skipping flu shots each year seems not a good idea. Flu kills; flu shots don't. Choices have consequences--potentially grave.