[Agnes Heep]

Great for people whose immunity isn't so good, for whatever reason, but since I'm not one of them I'll opt to take my chances with the flu.

[discostu]

I'm with you, never had the flu so apparently my immune system has it figured out. When the flu figures out my immuse system I'll change tactics. Too many wierd side effects to the flu shot anyway.

[expatpat]

My theory is that building up immunity to each year's expected flu strains will help when you get old and more susceptible.

[citizenK]

For a normal flu season, I agree with the statement - the flu shot is great for people whose immunities are compromised. However, you never know how bad an outbreak will be. An epidemic of proportions to the 1918-1919 outbreak will not discriminate even against those who are "not one of them" in the "not so good immunity" category.

For people in general good health, a flu shot during a normal year will keep you from missing work or other important activities.
A flu shot during an epidemic (or pandemic) season like 1918-1919 will probably save your life.

[Held_to_Ransom]

I am with you too. I know too many people who have messed up their immune systems by playing with them too much, self included. Mine is strong, it just considers any form of penicillan to be a good reason to go to war on itself. I prefer God's natural method.

[traditionalist]

Great for people whose immunity isn't so good, for whatever reason, but since I'm not one of them I'll opt to take my chances with the flu.

So you'd rather risk missing a week of work and infecting someone who could get severly sick than get a prick in your arm?

You're being irrational. There's no downside to a flu shot. Only upside.

[mewzilla]

...but since I'm not one of them I'll opt to take my chances with the flu.

FWIW, only time I've been hospitalized for an illness was for a case of the flu a few years back. I'm in good health, not middle aged yet, had gotten a flu shot, and still caught the flu. It's the sickest I've ever been in my life. I get the flu shot. Having the flu's not something I care to repeat. Or risk spreading.

[SamAdams76]

I've been sick maybe three times in the past 20 years. All of them for the common cold and only one of them I needed to see a doctor for because I developed a sinus infection with it. Doctor put me on antibiotics for that which is the only prescription I've ever had in 41 years of living.

I sincerely believe that many people destroy their immunity by taking excessive precautions. If you "shelter" your body too much, you become more susceptible to getting sick.

I know people who wear hats and gloves in cold weather and crank up the heat at home. They are always washing their hands are are ridiculously fussy about the foods they eat. Those people tend to get sick all the time.

I might wear a hat outside if it's zero degrees. I never turn my heat past 68 and I don't bother with air conditioning. I eat berries off bushes without washing them. I drink from a dirty beer glass. I'll wash my hands before eating - only if they are noticeably dirty (but I will wash before cooking somebody else's food out of courtesy). In short, I take very few precautions for getting sick and therefore I rarely, if ever, get sick.

I think that some exposure to germs and bacteria keep your body's immune system sharp. Just like professional sports, there's nothing like practice, practice, practice.

[cogitator]

Great for people whose immunity isn't so good, for whatever reason, but since I'm not one of them I'll opt to take my chances with the flu.

I already replied to another poster on this. Your attitude is irresponsible if you can easily get the shot. If you get the flu (and you might), if you don't completely quarantine yourself while you are contagious, you could potentially infect susceptible persons who could DIE from the flu.

So, if you get the flu, I don't feel sorry for you. Just stay in your house and don't go out until you are completely well. Act as if you had SARS.

[R. Scott]

I’m not yet into the category of high risk, so I’ll continue to take my chances. I have a deep psychological aversion to flu shots from all the experimental vaccines tested on us before my retirement.

[Desdemona]

Great for people whose immunity isn't so good, for whatever reason, but since I'm not one of them I'll opt to take my chances with the flu.

I'm with you. There's one going around in this part of the country that isn't included in the vaccine. A lot of people I know who got flu shots got it anyway. And it is NASTY. The ladies have been passing it around at work and the rest of us have been encouraging them to stay home.

We've been messing so much with our immune systems and viruses that someday, it's going to come back to haunt us.